Festival memories
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
I remember the first Festival of Pacific Arts I ever went to, way back in 1980 in Papua New Guinea. I was 12 years old.
Living in Port Moresby I had never seen true Polynesian dancing, the graceful arm movements, the rhythms of the drums, the swaying of hips, hands slapping chests and powerful legs bending at the knees, and the smiles – those beautiful smiles.
The Tongans, the Cook Islanders, the Samoans and the Tahitians, even the Melanesian Fijians, their bodies adorned with tattoos and glistening with coconut oil. It was the hottest thing I had ever seen.
It was also the first time I had ever seen an Aboriginal Australian. We had studied them in class thanks to the Australian curriculum that our school had adopted. I practically stalked the Aboriginal dance group during that festival, checking the daily program in the Post Courier to see what venue they would be at and badgering my mum to take me again and again.
I was used to diverse cultures, growing up in a country with 800 languages but, wow! The world really is amazing, I thought, with all its different faces, skin colours, languages, dances and songs.
Later, when I worked at EMTV, I made my first documentary on the 5th Festival of Pacific Arts, held in Townsville, Australia in 1988. I thought it would be a challenge, but it was the easiest half hour I have ever made. The most difficult part was trying to decide what to leave out. There was just so much variety in the colour and movement and sound.
20 years later, I have a feeling it’s going to be the same. All these pictures were just a taste – taken in the space of an hour down at Utulei Beach, where the daytime performance stage sits on the edge of beautiful Pago Pago harbour. I can hardly believe I’m here. I am 12 years old again, filled with wonder, heart pounding, lump in my throat, watching the beautiful proud Pacific come together and dance.
Your Comments
Michael , July 29th 2008
Fanbloodytastic!!!! As an Australian news audience these are pictures we see all too rarely. This is the colour, the magic and the unique beauty of the Pacific. Is there a warmer, more inviting place on the planet?
Bert Hall, St. George, Utah USA , July 31st 2008
Amazing pics and everything else as well. I love the Polynesia, but this has made me want to learn even more about my Pacific neighbors as well……..
Tea, Bosnia and Herzegovina , February 11th 2009
Wow, what great page!!!Would like to go back one day and experience more and visit the festival more than anything!
I was only in Tonga and loved it so much!
kATO lUTUI , March 16th 2009
i lOVE aNCIENT sTUFF lIKE THE hISTORIES OF THE pACIFIC
kATO lUTUI , March 16th 2009
i’M tONGAN bY THE WAWY i LIVE IN nEW zEALAND
hi , April 24th 2009
Very amazing….
Olly , June 18th 2009
Bulaa,
great pics :]
aj , June 19th 2009
I have been studing papua new guinea and it’s Islands and i am so Fascinated about it It’s awesome !!!
Fr. Drit Ranola , July 28th 2008
Dear Tanya, your photos are exquisite! Like no other, they capture the grace and color of Festival events. I look forward to your report in Australia Network. When they will be? Please let me know.