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''.

Early life

Born in

Mount Wellington Mount Wellington may refer to: Mountains * Mount Wellington (British Columbia), in Canada * Mount Wellington (New York), in Otsego County, New York, United States * Mount Wellington (Tasmania), in Tasmania, Australia * Mount Wellington (Victoria) ...

, Auckland. Tigafua is of Samoan descent with links to Safa’ato’a,

Lefaga Lefaga is a village district on the south west coast of the island of Upolu in Samoa. The American movie Return to Paradise (1953), starring Gary Cooper was filmed at Matautu village in Lefaga. The 50th anniversary celebrations of the making of th ...

and Faleū, Manono. 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.

Career

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 The New Zealand Dance Company (incorporated as The New Zealand Dance Advancement Trust) is an Auckland based, nationally focused contemporary dance company. Established in 2012, by co-founders Chief Executive/Artistic Director (and Arts Lau ...

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)

Performances, Choreography and Works

2012-2014 ''Language of Living,'' The New Zealand Dance Company, New Zealand 2013-2015 ''Rotunda,'' The New Zealand Dance Company, Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand 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 2016 ''Lumina,'' The New Zealand Dance Company, Germany, Holland, New Zealand 2016 ''Plan B,'' ''SIVA, Niu Sila,'' Auckland Tempo Dance Festival, Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand 2016 ''Ghostdance, Brouhaha,'' The New Zealand Dance Company, ''White Night,'' Auckland Arts Festival 2018 ''Home Sweet Home, Search Engine,'' Footnote New Zealand Dance, New Zealand 2019 ''Shel We?'' Kia Mau Festival, Wellington, New Zealand 2019 ''Alofagia:Le Opera,'' TAPA, Auckland Council, Nathan Homestead, Manurewa Local Board, Auckland, New Zealand 2020 ''Ngā Wai,'' Rangatira, Atamira Dance Company, The New Zealand Dance Company, Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand 2021 ''Songs of Protest,'' Toi Whakaari, Wellington, New Zealand 2021 ''Shel We?'' Pacific Dance Festival, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland New Zealand 2021 ''Ciggy Butts in the Sand,'' Te Papa Soundings Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand

Awards

2021 ''Shel We?'' Excellence Award for Choreography and Movement, The Wellington Theatre Awards 2017 Emerging Artist Award, Creative New Zealand Pasifika Arts

References

External References

# Studio Cam 2014 Tupua Tigafua's Dreamy McFloat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frnISMVa4t4 # The New Zealand Dance Company Short Series 4: Tupua Tigafua Language of Living photo shoot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiBCInHwtDI # Tupua Tigafua discussing work Home Sweet Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzuiUsZwQCc {{DEFAULTSORT:Tigafua, Tupua Living people New Zealand choreographers New Zealand dancers Samoan diaspora in New Zealand Year of birth missing (living people)