Rugby on the beach
Relaxing in the shade
We also met Master Lai’s brother who came walking out of the ocean carrying a HUGE supply of lobsters and fish in preparation from a celebratory feast for a relative arriving from America the following day. This celebration of kinship and family is something I find very special in Fiji.
The Conservatorium of Music students have been a big part of our adventure here in Fiji. From the beginning they have been welcoming and always ready to join us for a night out or invite us to a musical performance. Each of the students major in a particular instrument or voice; they participate in the dancing as they believe in and our proud of the traditional dances of Fiji. From talking to the students money does not seem to be the main impetus, as the majority of the fees for their concerts are reverted back into the Fijian Arts Council. The commitment was also astounding and goes against the common conception of Fijians as relaxed’ and, in some respects, lazy or at least not worried about deadlines. These students have class from 8am- 1pm and then dance rehearsals all afternoon! These students and the dances that they learn and perform for both local and international audiences are also a key example of combining ‘culture’ and ‘development’ as espoused by Hooper. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Conservatorium dancers have performed at the Shanghai Expo, in Canada, in Hong Kong and they are planning a trip to Australia next year- combining traditional dance and culture with a source of income.
What a great point to make!
ReplyDeleteThe COM students and staff are certainly hardworking and committed people.
Just in the next few weeks the COM is travelling to New Zealand, LA, Hong Kong, Germany and the Caribbean I think.