“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and to change the world.”
That is the mission statement of the Samoa Performing Arts Centre for Excellence (SPACE), established by the late Seiuli Allan Alo whose dream was to build a SPACE where Samoan youth and adults alike could express their artistic talents.
Last night his nephew Valentino Maliko and one of Seiuli’s students Glenville Christopher Lord co-produced a show described by the public who attended the event at Tanoa Tusitala Hotel as “magnificent, thought provoking, and deeply emotive”.
The SPACE theatre group opened the year with its first production show, the “Tandra Siva”.
The co-producers who are themselves experienced dancers, used imagery, music, lyrics and eloquently choreographed movements to address social issues often swept under the falalilii such as mental illness, gender based violence, gender equality and inclusiveness.
They closed the show by leading a powerful finalé performance to Fiji’s Sosefina.
Tanoa Tusitala Hotel stepped up as major sponsors of the show as acknowledged by the articulately entertaining host, Dane Fabricious.
“This would not be possible without the tremendous support of our sponsors Naydith Events Hirage, DJ Chixx Sammy Moa Magele, TV3 Samoa, Taula Beverages and our major sponsor Tanoa Tusitala Hotel”.
Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa was the evening’s special guest. Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Islands Fonoifafo Mcfarland Seumanu also attended and performed the taualuga.
One of the dancers Tauiliili Nicodemus Palamo shares that the SPACE arts and theatre group allows him to develop his passion for the arts and provides a relaxing environment from a hard days’ work.
“I feel happy and most of all excited, it’s like I’m in my own world, I feel free and it helps me get through any stress from the week.”
A Customer Service Advisor at Bank South Pacific, Tauiliili says it is also a great platform to put out a voice and advocate for issues facing our youth today through the arts.
“The techniques are not only based on contemporary dance but it is mixed with different genres. It’s really effective to use for sending strong messages.”
“I love the people that are there; friendly and crazy at times but most of all we take care of each other.”
“It’s like a family, we may have ups and downs but at the end of the day we are laughing out loud and having fun”.
