Tupua Tigafua

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Tupua Tigafua is a Samoan choreographer and dancer based in New Zealand. Tigafua was a recipient of the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Award for Emerging Artist in 2017. In 2021, the Wellington Theatre Awards presented him with the Excellence Award for Choreography and Movement for original work Ciggy Butts in the Sand.[1][2][3]

Early life[edit]

Born in Mount Wellington, Auckland. Tigafua is of Samoan descent with links to Safa’ato’a, Lefaga and Faleū, Manono.[4] The youngest of five siblings, he was a practitioner of Samoan and Tongan dance. Tigafua's first attempt to transition to contemporary dance resulted in not completing studies at Unitec.[5][6]

Career[edit]

At 20 years of age, Tigafua was approached to dance with Black Grace, which he did for three years. Soon he was to follow it up with a stint in Lemi Ponifasio's Mau. The company's work was based primarily in Berlin centred around stories of immigrants who lived in the city. In 2012 he joined The New Zealand Dance Company and four years later, Tigafua made the decision to continue as an independent choreographer and dancer.

“It’s important to tell, or to add to our conversation but not to repeat the same thing or say it louder. From my perspective as New Zealand-born I got to travel a lot so you learn to be more curious about things around you — like the garage drink-up but I’m adding my perspective.” (Tigafua)[7]

Performances, Choreography and Works[edit]

2012-2014 Language of Living, The New Zealand Dance Company, New Zealand[8]

2013-2015 Rotunda, The New Zealand Dance Company, Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand[9]

2015-2017 Double Derelicts, White Face Crew, Kia Mau Festival, Wellington, Matariki on the Move programme, Auckland, Centrepoint Theatre, Palmerston North, Hawkes Bay Arts Festival, Hamilton Gardens Festival, New Zealand[10]

2016 Lumina, The New Zealand Dance Company, Germany, Holland, New Zealand[11]

2016 Plan B, SIVA, Niu Sila, Auckland Tempo Dance Festival, Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand[12]

2016 Ghostdance, Brouhaha, The New Zealand Dance Company, White Night, Auckland Arts Festival[13]

2018 Home Sweet Home, Search Engine, Footnote New Zealand Dance, New Zealand[14]

2019 Shel We? Kia Mau Festival, Wellington, New Zealand[15]

2019 Alofagia:Le Opera, TAPA, Auckland Council, Nathan Homestead, Manurewa Local Board, Auckland, New Zealand[16]

2020 Ngā Wai, Rangatira, Atamira Dance Company, The New Zealand Dance Company, Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand[17]

2021 Songs of Protest, Toi Whakaari, Wellington, New Zealand[18]

2021 Shel We? Pacific Dance Festival, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland New Zealand[19]

2021 Ciggy Butts in the Sand, Te Papa Soundings Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand[20]

Awards[edit]

2021 Shel We? Excellence Award for Choreography and Movement, The Wellington Theatre Awards[3]

2017 Emerging Artist Award, Creative New Zealand Pasifika Arts[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Shel Silverstein and Tupua Tigafua". RNZ. 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  2. ^ a b "Arts Pasifika Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in Pacific Art". www.creativenz.govt.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  3. ^ a b "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  4. ^ "Tupua Tigafua with David Long". Track Zero. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  5. ^ "TBI Q&A: Tupua Tigafua". The Big Idea. 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  6. ^ "Shel Silverstein and Tupua Tigafua - Standing Room Only (podcast)". Listen Notes. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  7. ^ Peters, Mark. "Falling up". www.gisborneherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  8. ^ "Language Of Living". New Zealand Dance Company. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  9. ^ "Rotunda". New Zealand Dance Company. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  10. ^ "Shows". WHITE FACE CREW. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  11. ^ McKee, Hannah (2016-05-18). "The New Zealand Dance Company's Lumina to light up the stage". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  12. ^ Flightdec. "SIVA Niu Sila Review". DANZ. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  13. ^ "Brouhaha - The New Zealand Dance Company | WhiteNight". whitenight.aaf.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  14. ^ "Search Engine". Footnote New Zealand Dance. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  15. ^ "Shel Silverstein and Tupua Tigafua". RNZ. 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  16. ^ "SOUNZ The Making of 'Alofagia: Le Opera' - VIDEO". sounz.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  17. ^ Floor, The 13th (2020-10-29). "Atamira Is Back on the Boards with NGĀ WAI | The 13th Floor". Retrieved 2022-05-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Songs of Protest". www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  19. ^ "The FAME Mid-Career Awards 2022 Winners!". Performing Arts Network of New Zealand. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  20. ^ "Ciggie Butts in the Sand - Climate change through the eyes of child". www.theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-05-03.


External References[edit]

  1. Studio Cam 2014 Tupua Tigafua's Dreamy McFloat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frnISMVa4t4
  2. The New Zealand Dance Company Short Series 4: Tupua Tigafua Language of Living photo shoot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiBCInHwtDI
  3. Tupua Tigafua discussing work Home Sweet Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzuiUsZwQCc
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