When the cruise ship that was in port yesterday, the MSC Magnifica departed for Samoa it had on board a dance troupe from local dance academy Le Taupou Manaia.
Founder of Le Taupou Manaia Tuifaasisina Korina Lee said she was elated when the Mediterranean Shipping Company made contact with her and expressed interest in having Le Taupou perform during the liner’s trip from American Samoa to Samoa.
“They did they research on line and picked us,” said an elated Tufaasisina. 
A group of 10 dancers and 2 assistants were picked for the trip on board the Magnifica. Tuifaasisina said before departing yesterday that they were to do two 35 minute shows last night.
They will disembark in Apia before the cruise ship leaves Matautu wharf and MSC Cruises is paying for the group’s airfares back to Pago Pago.
The Le Taupou Manaia founder sees this as a spring board for opportunities down the line. She said the MSC Magnifica continues on to Fiji and the Cook Islands and there’s a possibility that Le Taupou may be picked to entertain for the onward cruises.
“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” she said. “We’ve entertained on the dock for the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and other famous cruise ships but being invited to perform on board during a cruise is something I never imagined.”
Among the 1,006 crew members of the cruise ship are 16 Samoan sailors. Eight are completing their contracts and leaving the Magnifica in Apia. They will be replaced by 8 other Samoan sailors who have signed up to work for the MSC company.
