Professional dancer, William Anthony Meredith, aka Tony Meredith, is currently visiting his family and enjoying the island life and pace.
While other Samoans have become famous in Polynesian entertainment, Tony is arguably the only person of Samoan decent who has become famous in the art of ballroom dancing.
While he is also versatile in mambo, cha cha and other dance forms, ballroom dancing is his specialty—winning competitions across the United States.
He retired from competitive dancing in 1998, and is now an instructor and organizer of dance competitions.
In a phone interview with KHJ News, from his late parents’ home in Leone, Meredith talked about one of the highlights of his career.
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This week, students and faculty of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), were lucky to learn some moves from Tony at a workshop in the college’s Multipurpose Center.
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Head of the ASCC Fine Arts Department, Kuki Tuiasosopo said, “Because we are geographically isolated from the mainland where the arts flourish, each time we learn of a professional artist visiting the island, like Tony, it’s our chance to grab them to do a workshop with our students.”
The workshop was open to all students and faculty, and was mandatory for fine arts students.
Tony says that before he leaves at the end of this month, he may have another dance workshop through his sister’s, Regina Reggie Meredith Fitiao’s, Fa’a Samoa Arts Initiative.
