Creators: Natalie Toevai & Amo Ieriko, Siva Afi Festival, Polynesian Entertainers Ltd https://www.polynesianentertainers.com/sivafifestival/
Artform: Traditional Dance, Festival
Timeframe: September 2022 – May 2023
Location: Māngere
Polynesian Entertainers in conjunction with Siva Afi Mangere will hold a fire knife competition for school age performers in the courtyard of Māngere Arts Centre in 2023, as well as for the third year running an all-female fire knife competition. Siva Afi Festival 2023 sees the arrival of international artists and Siva Afi expertise, to showcase and share their experience and knowledge with local siva afi community.
Siva Afi Festival Director Amo Ieriko is seeking to build up the talent within his production crew and also to pass on his years of experience and knowledge to a local emerging event producer. In the lead up phase to the March 2023 Festival Amo has offered to mentor local creative Natalie Toevai in all elements of Festival Production. From coordinating all performers, to equipment hiring, stage directing, event safety, budget management and event marketing and PR.
The mentoring of Natalie Toevai provides an opportunity to strengthen the capabilities of Siva Afi Festival production team, at the same time as developing the experience and knowledge within the local creative and entrepreneurial community.
The Siva Afi Festival was initially funded by Mangere Otahuhu Arts & the Mangere Arts Centre ‘courtyard activation’ initiative in 2020. Since then the Arts Broker has support the project to be awarded funding via the CNZ Wave Initiative. Additional funding is sort after via US Embassy NZ exchange program for the international guests taking part.
Amo Tauanuu Ieriko. In 2008 Amo had a vision to grow a Siva Afi Ailao community in Aotearoa and methodically set about instilling the vital steps needed to reach his goal. Using his established networks in the Pasifika community through his 20 years of volunteer work, Amo grew their interest in incorporating Siva Afi Ailao in future events. This drove interest within the community and eventuated in the forming of the first Siva Afi troupe in Tāmaki Makaurau, Tahi Mana Polynesian Fire Warriors.
Natalie Toevai. Founder of SivaMaiWithNat. Siva Sāmoa champion and creative Fonoti Vaiotausala Natalie Leitulagi Toeva, is the newest member of the tutoring team with Siva Afi Mangere workshops in 2022. Former Miss Samoa NZ, Natalie has an intensive resume of creative and performance repertoire for over 20years.
As a local Mangere resident, Natalie is the ideal person for this Siva Afi opportunity, which will not only support the Festival teams workload, but ensure Māngere has a greater stake in the project via locals taking ownership in various aspects of their local annual Festival” Arts Broker, Renee Tanner
