First flight for Banaban dancers

[Stacey King]

Tevita Vuibau Saturday, June 30, 2012

Fiji delegates to the 11th Festival of the Pacific Arts in the Solomons leave Suva for Nadi yesterday.Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

FOR 15 students of Rabi High School on Vanua Levu showcasing their culture at the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts is a twofold blessing.

Group member Lucyanne Tawaka said the chance to get on an aircraft and fly to a foreign land was almost as big an opportunity to them as representing Fiji at the festival.

The students were part of the 121-member strong Fiji delegation that left the capital city yesterday to catch their flight from Nadi to the Solomon Islands.

Ms Tawaka said for most of the youths of the group, this excursion was the first time they would leave the shores of Fiji.

"We feel proud and are very excited because this is our first time to travel out and represent Fiji," she said.

"We want to show our real culture and the Banaban ways of dancing. We also want to show the rest of the Pacific that we are true citizens of Fiji."

Ms Tawaka said the group of Six and Seven Formers were all eager to see what the rest of the Pacific had to offer at the festival.

Fiji Arts Council director Laisiasa Veikoso said the Fiji delegation would give their all and show everything Fiji had to offer.

"We'll be showing our firewalking, painting, singing, carving, dancing. You name it, we have it," Mr Veikoso said.

The 11th Pacific Arts Festival starts in Honiara next week.

Eight groups representing a cross section of Fijian society will represent Fiji at the Pacific spectacular.

[bae'nana Lillian Teirei]

you go guys..go,hard and have fun..REPRESNT!