Competition Flyer - Samoa News | Iniini Samoa

Siva Afi is seeking your sponsorship for its major event of
this year –
15th International Siva Afi Competition
1st, 2nd, 3rd September 2016
Now in its 15th year, the International Siva Afi Competition
is the second longest running fire knife dance competition
in the World, after the World Fire Knife Competition in
Hawaii.
The competition is the culmination of 12 months of
community activities which include:
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Images from
14th International Siva Afi Competition
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Free fire knife workshops conducted weekly at Siva
Afi’s premises at Matautu-tai;
Dinner and a full cultural show every week at
Matautu-tai, attended by locals and tourists;
Shows supporting other community & Government
events, eg Govt. of Samoa, Samoa Victim Support, Alo
Paopao, SBEC;
Dance workshops and shows in villages in Upolu and
Savaii;
Attendance at other fire knife competitions, eg Hawaii.
Contracts for fire dancers performing at Hong Kong
Disneyland.
Preserving and Promoting Samoan Performing Arts
Melanie Lesoa,
Intermediate winner
Hawaii 2002, with
brother Barry, Junior
winner 2002.
THE BEGINNING
Below:
Its purpose was to preserve and promote the art of Samoan
Fire Dancing and to support the development of young Fire
Dancers living in Samoa.
Barry performing in
Hawaii 2002 and as
a finalist at the
International Siva Afi
Competition in 2014.
The International Siva Afi Competition was first run in
2002 by Lene Leota of Siva Afi, who formed a fire knife
dancing club, the Ailao Club in the same year.
As a Fire Dancer for many years, Lene was concerned that
many of Samoa’s traditional and performing arts were being
“borrowed” by other islands like Hawaii, Guam, Tahiti and
New Zealand and claimed as their own, thus limiting
Samoa’s opportunity to capitalise on a growing worldwide
interest in traditional performing arts.
One of the first projects was to take a group of Fire Dancers
to the World Fire Knife Competition in Hawaii in May
2002. The one female member of the group created history
by being not only the first female to perform at the
competition, but also the first female to win the
Intermediate competition.
Her brother, Barry won the junior competition in Hawaii
the same year.
Preserving and Promoting Samoan Performing Arts
SUCCESS STORIES TO CELEBRATE 15 YEARS
Over the years we have trained 100’s of fire knife dancers,
many of whom are working in Samoa or overseas and
supporting their families. We are especially proud of 5
members of the Ailao Club who are currently working for
Hong Kong Disneyland as fire dancers.
Joint winners of the first competition in 2002, the
NATIONAL BANK SIVA AFI COMPETITION were
Hogan Toomalatai and Sakaio Pupualii, both of whom are
now performing at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Also now performing in Hong Kong is Evi Seumanutafa
from Matautu-uta, who regularly returns to Samoa to visit
his family and his Siva Afi family!
Hogan Toomalatai and Sakaio Pupualii,
winners of the first International Siva Afi
Competition in 2002.
Top Right: Frankie Solomona, winner of the
14th International Siva Afi Competition 2015.
Bottom Right: Tuai Atonio, latest member of
the Ailao Club to join Hong Kong Disneyland.
Recent additions to Hong Kong Disneyland are Frankie
Solomona and Tuai Atonio, both of whom started their
careers as juniors in the Ailao Club. Frankie returned to
Samoa in 2015, to win the 14th International Siva Afi
Competition.
We are proud of all their achievements and proud to have
been part of their international success.
Preserving and Promoting Samoan Performing Arts
WEEKLY WORKSHOPS & SHOWS
Since 2002, Siva Afi has conducted FREE workshops every
week for anyone who wants to learn the fire dance. The
reason that these workshops are free is because Lene doesn’t
want kids who can’t afford to attend the workshops to be
“left out”.
Lene believes you are born with talent, it is not something
that can be bought, and some of our most successful fire
knife dancers are not from highly educated or wealthy
backgrounds.
Lene training some of the young ones
at the weekly workshop.
Left: Walter, a fourteen year old star
in the making.
In 2003, realising that there was no point in training fire
knife dancers if they had nowhere to showcase their talent,
Lene started shows, covering traditional Samoan dancing.
The shows are always well attended by tourists, Samoans
from overseas and locals who come to experience the
authenticity of the cultural performances.
These shows also help to provide many dancers with a
valuable income.
Highly popular dinner
shows every week.
Preserving and Promoting Samoan Performing Arts
VILLAGE ROADSHOWS
Over the years Siva Afi has conducted several village road
shows in remote villages in Savaii and Upolu. The format is
a combination of workshops for kids in the village during
the day, with a full shows for the whole village at night.
The Village Road Shows have a dual purpose. Firstly to
inspire the village kids and give them hope of a future dance
career, particularly if they are not good at school nor excel in
sports. Secondly to illustrate to our dance group and fire
knife dancers, who are mostly “town area” people, the
hardships experienced by kids who are growing up in
remote villages.
The shows at night are hugely popular with everyone, as
they are designed to include performances from the kids
who have been involved in the workshops and some very
proud parents!
Lene training kids at workshops in Savaii.
Some of the kids waiting their turn to perform in the show at night.
Preserving and Promoting Samoan Performing Arts
HOW DO WE DO ALL THIS?
The programmes we have undertaken and continue to
undertake are evidence not only of Lene’s passion and
commitment to the youth of Samoa, but also his tireless
energy in fundraising to support our activities.
None of what we do would be possible without the support
of our sponsors, many of whom have been with us since
2002. All are private sector companies, some small, some
large who value the benefits they get by being associated
with the work we do with the youth of Samoa.
The International Siva Afi Competition provides financial
benefit too, to the many people involved in it – fire knife
dancers, dancers, bar staff, catering staff.
The total prize money alone is more than $10,000, the
senior winner receiving $3,000 and a set of fire knives.
We invite your company to join us in our mission to
preserve and promote Samoan Performing Arts, as a sponsor
for the 15th International Siva Afi Competition and look
forward to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship.
Preserving and Promoting Samoan Performing Arts