BODY PACIFICA LAUNCH NIGHT | FRIDAY 25 JUNE, 6pm – 9pm

6.00pm		DOORS OPEN, PACIFIC ISLAND MUSIC
6.44pm		ST BRIGID'S MARRICKVILLE CATHOLIC CHURCH - COMBINED TONGAN AND SAMOAN CHOIR Pacific angels will lift the roof off Casula Powerhouse as this 30 strong choir sing selected Tongan and Samoan favourites.
7.00pm		WELCOME TO COUNTRY BY AUNTY MAE ROBINSON
7.05pm		FIJIAN KAVA CEREMONY The Fijian Community of Sydney will present the Kava Ceremony. The kava bowl used in the ceremony is part of the Pacific Collection of the Australian Museum and will be used for the first time in hundreds of years.
7.25pm		OFFICIAL SPEECHES The Hon Virginia Judge - Minister for the Arts and Minister for Fair Trading.
7.40pm		MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY VALMA - MATHEW TAGALOA Valma is one of the leading Pacific Island voices here in Sydney with strong vocals and energy.
7.55pm		LATAI TAUMOEPEAU, PERFORMANCE INSTALLATION, 'PORTAL-ITY 39' (TOLU HIVA) A Punake and performance generator of ancient ritualistic intensity with a machete edge sense for absurdity, informed by the frangipani-less margins. A collaboration by Tevita Havea and Sista Native.
8.05pm		TAUALUGA - THE FINAL DANCE Miss Samoa and the Samoa Council Sydney will perform the Taualuga. Miss Samoa will perform using the Nifo oti (the knife of death) from the Australian Museum's Pacific Collection.
8.15pm		MUTHA TRIBE - PACIFIC REGGAE BAND Mutha Tribe is a collaboration between two leading Pacific island reggae bands: Mutha Funktion and V-Tribe.
9.00pm		CLOSE

Te Ao Hurihanga, photography by Chris Barber


SATURDAY BODY PACIFIC FESTIVAL DAY | SATURDAY 26 JUNE, 10am - 6pm

OUTDOORS: MARKETS

Support our Pacific Island arts and crafts producers displaying and selling their Pacific Island goodies from hula skirts and lava lavas to jewellery. Underground cooked food from a Hangi and Umu will also be available for sale.

10.00am

ABORIGINAL SMOKING CEREMONY - UNCLE MAX

INDOORS: TURBINE STAGE PROGRAM

11.00am		MAORI KAPA HAKA PERFORMANCE TE AO HURIHANGA. Te Ao Hurihanga Productions is a Sydney-based organisation that performed at the recent reunion of the 28th Maori Battalion veterans on Tuesday 17 February 2009 in Wellington.
11.30am		SYDNEY COOK ISLAND PERFORMERS Come on down and shake it 'Cook Island' style.
12.00pm		TOKELAU CATHOLIC DANCE GROUP SYDNEY Casula is the home of this 40 strong performance group. Their romantic rhythmic beats, vocals and chants bring a sense of belonging to audiences.
12.30pm		STREET UNIVERSITY LIVERPOOL - CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE GROUP Hip Hop and RnB groups perform original tracks that reflect the positive state of mind of a new generation.
12.45pm		FIJI YOUTH INITIATIVE PERFORMANCE See a sample of the meaningful work created by the Fijian Youth Initiative, facilitated by Thelma Thomas.
1.00pm		NRL PACIFIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT - SHOWCASE The National Rugby League (NRL) will showcase their work with Pacific Island youth with a cultural performance.
2.00pm		SAMOAN COUNCIL SYDNEY PERFORMANCE The Samoan Council Sydney will perform traditional dances passed down throughout the ages. The dances tell stories of love, war and voyages to new homelands.
2.15pm		PHINEAS MATA'UTIA HARTSON During his time, Phineas has become a respected singer, songwriter and performer of soul and funk.
2.30pm		100 SAMOAN WARRIORS For the first time in Australia, 100 Samoans will reveal their tattoos on a catwalk as a mark of respect to the art form. Su'a Suluape Petelo comes from a long line of traditional tattooists who create the traditional Pe'a tattoo, and you will see the Suluape family's work live today.
3.30pm		DECLAN KELLY & THE RISING SUN Declan's upbeat, groove based music reflects his colourful background with an Irish father and a Maori mother.
4.45pm		ISAIAH B BRUNT TRIO & GUESTS This Samoan Blues brother has recorded many albums, is well known in the Sydney blues arena and is a quiet achiever in the 'Pacific Island' blues story.
5.45pm		MUTHA TRIBE - PACIFIC REGGAE BAND Mutha Tribe is a collaboration between two leading Pacific island reggae bands: Mutha Funktion and V-Tribe.

BODY PACIFIC FESTIVAL & SAMOAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

SUNDAY 27 JUNE, 10am - 6pm

The Samoan Council Sydney in partnership with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre presents the biggest day for Samoans this year. After the Samoa Tsunami of 2009, Samoans all over Sydney came together in a show of strength and unity to organise relief support to aid their brothers and sisters who needed their financial assistance.

Come join our Samoan community as they celebrate Independence Day and acknowledge the Samoan and Australian community's hard work. This is an opportunity for Samoans to come together to show love for the Samoan people and their homeland.

Dress in black & white

PROGRAM

   8.00am - 10.00am   SAMOAN UMU WORKSHOP

   10.00am - 3.00pm   SAMOAN FOOD, PACIFIC & SAMOAN ARTS & CRAFTS STALLS

11.00am		JOINT SAMOAN CHRISTIAN SERVICE
11.45am		MAU, SAMOA'S INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT AND HISTORY PRESENTATION by Samoa Council Sydney and Lalau Leo Tanoi
12.30pm		SAMOAN TO'ONA'I-LUNCH, SAMOAN FOOD STALLS
1.30pm		SAMOAN CHOIR PROGRAM Ten of Sydney's Samoan Christian Choirs will showcase their talents as they celebrate Independence Day together with one voice and one theme "Thank you"
5.50pm		CLOSING PRAYER OF THE BODY PACIFICA WEEKEND

Visit www.casulapowerhouse.com for more details on choirs performing on Sunday 27 June.

For more information about the Samoan Independence Day celebrations,
contact Peti Moaga on 9644 1867 or 0402 177 657, or contact Casula Powerhouse on 9824 1121.








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