PA2019 - Ufitia Sagapolutele

Premiere: A new work by Ufitia Sagapolutele for three dancers that draws on a pattern used in 'malu', the Samoan female tattoo traditions.

Contemporary Pacific dance performance that pays homage to the fafine (women) of the Moana, who carry the mana, alofa (love) and honour of their ancestors. Performed in the NZ Portrait Gallery for just a few performances, this stunning dance is about female forms of divinity, and their place as the original navigators and tattooists.

Choreographed by Director Ufitia Sagapolutele, featuring dancers Faith Schuster, Natalia Ioane and Lyncia Muller.

Ufitia Sagapolutele has a Bachelor of Creative Arts from the Manukau Institute of Technology and a Master of Dance Studies from University of Auckland. She is now the Auckland project coordinator for Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ) and has also worked with Pacific Dance New Zealand through TAUTAI.

Born and raised from Manurewa, South Auckland, Ufitia knew she wanted to pursue a career in the Arts. Ufitia started off as a hip-hop dancer and was a part of the gold medalist dance company - The Royal Family (2012), and silver medalists - Identity Dance Company (2014 & 2015).

After completing her studies Ufitia was inspired by her late Mother (who was known for her passion in Siva Samoa) to pursue a choreographic career interweaving hip-hop, contemporary and Siva Samoa.