My Island Dream 2018

Over the school holidays St Albans students celebrated the diversity of Pasifika cultures by participating in Melbourne’s biggest schools Pasifika event, called My Island Dream.

 

My Island Dream drew one of its biggest crowds this year, with 11 Melbourne schools gathering together to honour the very many island nations in our Pacific, through song, dance and performance, reflecting different cultural histories knowledge and stories.

 

This event was a non-competitive cultural exchange platform created for and by the Pasifika youth of Melbourne. It was a truly spectacular event and an epic achievement, which brought so many schools and nationalities together to connect and appreciate the value of cultural diversity.

 

Students had the valuable experience of meeting lots of different people and interacting with the history and culture of many different nationalities. St Albans students’ performance integrated knowledge from Samoan, Tongan, and Māori nationalities, performing with live percussion and singers to showcase four dances and one song for the crowds.

 

Year 12 mentors Maioa Timoteo, Quiajrah Beazley-Folomu, Dawnie Elisara, and Zach Vitale are to be congratulated for their gargantuan efforts in bringing the performances together. Students prepared daily for all of Term 3, using their lunchtimes, after school, and also working with local church groups to deliver an outstanding and moving performance.

 

Special thanks also goes out to Lilio, Mele, Leata and Joseph for their work teaching the dances, making the uniforms and organising the live percussion.