Pasifika Creative Artist off to Japan

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ufitia Sagapolutele is an Aotearoa-Samoan creative artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. Ufitia’s arts practice interweaves elements of Siva Samoa, Contemporary and Street Dance and has been active in the arts for 13 years as a mover and storyteller. Ufitia is the co-founder of Pacific dance collective, TULOU, alongside artists Faith Schuster and Lyncia Müller and has performed works at the Weltkulturen Museum (Germany), Te Papa Museum, Auckland Museum, Kia Mau Festival and Pacific Dance Festival, to name a few. Outside of dance, Ufitia works alongside artists Geoffery Matautia and Bryson Naik with Period7, is the Digital Content Producer for Pacific Dance New Zealand and is on the Board of Trustees for Red Leap Theatre.

PROJECT

During 2020, Ufitia was offered an opportunity to do an arts residency in Japan. This was a dream come true as Japan has been on the top of Ufitia’s list to visit and perform in. Due to the pandemic, the residency wasn’t able to go ahead. Fast forward to 2022, Ufitia has been offered another opportunity to go to Japan and do a 1-month arts residency at YUI-PORT, the Niigata City Centre for Creative Arts and International Youth Exchange. This opportunity would give Ufitia a chance to research, create and develop her choreographic voice, exchange with local residents of Niigata sharing Pacific culture through Siva Samoa and learn traditional Japanese dances. The arts residency would include workshops, researching the indigenous Ainu community, and developing a work to bring back to Aotearoa.

WHAT THIS COVERS

Unfortunately, this incredible residency is self-funded, the organisation can only cover accommodation, an artist fee for workshops and production space (studio and gallery). Everything else will need to be covered by me.

This funding will be allocated to cover costs that include:

• Airfares
• Transport during the residency
• Food
• Choreographic Fee

OUTCOME

One of the main purposes of this residency is to develop Ufitia's choreographic and creative skills. Ufitia will develop new ideas and will then perform the development stage back in Tāmaki Makaurau mid-2023. The other main purpose of this residency is to develop a professional relationship with YUI-PORT and nurture the vā between the arts in Japan and Aotearoa, in hopes to create the opportunity to bring more artists in the future.

Thank you for reading and supporting my māhi. I truly appreciate it and I look forward to documenting the journey and sharing it with you all.

Fa’afetai tele lava,

Ufitia Sagapolutele