USP’s art and culture centre director Peter Espiritu to host dance festival in honour of the centre’s founder Epeli Hau’ofa
Dancing is not just entertainment but a viable profession says one of the country’s leading dance instructors.
Peter Espiritu, the artistic director of the Oceania Dance Theatre, based at the University of the South Pacific’s Oceania Centre, says for the first time, they will be hosting the first annual Epeli Hau’ofa International Dance Festival.
“We at the OCACPS are starting the year off with a bang by hosting the annual memorial Epeli Hau’ofa International Dance Festival which will be a week long,” he said.
“There will be international dancers, regional, and local dancers, who will be showcasing their talents from contemporary to Ariel dancing and others to the public.
“For me I take my job seriously, teaching students about dancing and as far as I have seen, there is great talent out there.”
Mr Espiritu said the centre would be honouring its founder for teaching unity in all races.
“The university is a multiracial place where people learn about different cultures and lifestyles and by bringing in dances from all over, we will be able to diversify the teachings and understanding of other cultures as well,” he said.
The festival will feature guest dancers from Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Hawaii, New Zealand, United States of America and New Caledonia. It will also have dancers from three USP student cultural groups representing Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia and local dance groups VOU, Rako Pasifika, Conservatorium Of Music, Shobna Channel Dance Group and USP’s Oceania Dance Theatre.
The festival will be from March 24-29, 2014 at the USP’s Japan Pacific ICT centre.
Feedback: farisha.ahmed@fijisun.com.fj