With increased online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic, some service organizations are attracting attention off island.
And this is translating to new business opportunities.
With the ban on public gatherings Le Taupou Manaia Academy teaches girls the art of Samaon dancing and other aspects of the culture has been holding classes on line.
Founder, Managing Director and Chief Choreographer Tuifa’asisina Korina Lee says since they started they’ve been getting girls from Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa and Australia to join classes from here in the territory.
“We are now finding ourselves busy trying to accommodate everyone, and our biggest challenge is the time differences,” she said.
And just recently there was a request to add Samoan language classes.
Tuifaasisina says the request came from an organization based in New South Wales, Australia, Golden Manna Academy.
“They asked if I would be interested in teaching Siva Samoa and Gagana Samoa online for boys & girls ranging from ages 5 – 18 years old,” she said.
And Le Taupou Manaia Academy has accepted the request.
The three instructors providing Samoan language and siva lessons are Lila Seva’aetasi Tuilagi-Toia, a teacher by profession with a Bachelor Degree in Education, Lefagaoali’i Annie Ainu’u Mata’utia Amosa Lei Sam, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and Tuifa’asisina Korina Seiuli Lee- Choreographer/Managing Director of Le Taupou-Manaia Academy.
The Australian group is paying for the service as an activity for their students during the COVID -19 lockdown in Australia. And only the group has access to the Samoan language classes.
Tuifa’assina said, “We are hoping to get some of our former dancers onboard to teach other Siva Classes when they are available. This is a great opportunity for kids all over the world to learn more about the Samoan culture since they have so much free time on their hands.”
