Siva Samoa classes for the next generations...

One of the benefits of living within a Pasifika community growing up within PIC (Pacific Islanders Presbyterian church) was learning the different Samoan cultural dances that include the: sasa (slap dance), ma'ulu'ulu (graceful group dance); Cook Islands drum dance and Niue cultural dances as well as whatever the contemporary European dance of the time was i.e. disco, line dance etc.

This week, I've encouraged ours to attend Samoa Siva classes which are being held at a local community centre by a skilled Samoan dancer.

I think this is a neat opportunity for ours to learn the graceful hands and synchronized dance movements of the Siva Samoa and all the nuances that come with it i.e. smiling while you're dancing, watching your finger movements and being graceful along the way.

The only things that you need to take with you are: a bottle of water and a lavalava (I'd add a good/teachable attitude) that goes a long way to learning the movements that can often be hard to a new comer as well as ensuring that the actions that you are dancing to fit the words that are being sung and the melody and beat of the musika.

All in all, a neat initiative to pass on these ancient forms of dance in a contemporary setting in a foreign land to the next generation...