Empowering children to take the stage
‘‘If we can provide that performing arts base, where it’s not as expensive, and we only cover our costs, then that is what we will do.’’
Jon Samia
A teacher says his experience in big-stage musicals like Mama Mia and Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has opened his eyes to a lack of Pasifika talent in the sector.
Jon Samia has shared the stage with talents from all over Manawatū, and he said the lack of Māori or Pasifika people was something he struggled with.
‘‘I don’t understand that, because I know from experience we have amazing talent.’’
Samia started drama classes young and went onto to study theatre and film in Canterbury. He moved to Palmerston North five years ago and joined Act Three Productions. ‘‘The arts scene in Palmy is amazing but the shows I was in didn’t feature many Polynesians,’’ he said.
He teamed up with Tiana Fauolo, who runs the Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata after-school and holiday programme, in a bid to change that.
Together they are redeveloping the programme with a focus on performing arts.
Samia said he hoped that by introducing children to the basics of performing, their self-esteem would grow.
‘‘I want this to be a place they can come to build the skill base, their confidence and most of all the love for it.
‘‘We nurture them, grow their talent and then say, ‘Off you go – choose what you want to do and make yourself known in the community through the arts and beyond.’’’
Fauolo said having a focus on performing arts was a way to help children
express themselves and develop skills that would carry them into the future.
Fauolo had tried to secure funding to support the programme, but had so far been unsuccessful. Families had stepped in to the fill some of that gap.
‘‘If we can provide that performing arts base, where it’s not as expensive, and we only cover our costs, then that is what we will do,’’ Samia said.
‘‘The cost for these families is often a big thing, and tap classes, ballet classes can cost a lot. These parents don’t necessarily have the resources to support that.‘‘
The children got to put these skills into practice when they performed songs from Disney’s Encanto last night. ‘‘For me, it’s about building their confidence ... Friday’s show gives them a chance to performin front of a crowd with some familiar faces.’’
Lani-May Manogiamanu, 6, loved to sing and said she was nervous but could not wait to performin front of her parents.
Aniva Peti, 8, said her favourite part of being on stage was getting to dance and she was keen to have a future in the performing arts. ‘‘I can’t wait to showmy dancing to my dad,’’ she said.
Samia said the most rewarding part of his work was the pride children felt when they finished the show.
‘‘It’s really satisfying for me when you get a few kids who start off saying, ‘I don’t want to do that,’ and then I watch as they get involved and are up there and have fun.
‘‘This helps them in life as well, it builds their character, and they can be confident and know who they are and be proud of who they Ā are, because I feel like that is often missing in the Pasifika community.’’