10–13 Sep
SHEL WE
TUPUA TIGAFUA (AOTEAROA | NZ)
Playful, enchanting dance, full of mischief.
Dance
What do you get when trees, ghosts and deer combine in a mischievous mix by one of Aotearoa’s most ingenious dancers, storytellers and awardwinning choreographers? You’ll find yourself in the offbeat, playful world of Shel We by Tupua Tigafua. The spark of Shel We springs from the works of American writer and cartoonist Shel Silverstein — the quirky mind most
DURATION 55min
famously known for the children’s book The Giving Tree and the lyrics of Johnny Cash’s A Boy Named Sue. On a personal level, Shel We is a playful tribute to Tupua’s parents, his family and the environment that inspires him. Set against an evocative classical score, the work is a joyful blend of laughter, strangeness, love, memory and the natural world. Off-beat, upbeat and heartwarming, Shel We has delighted audiences of all ages from New Zealand to Sweden.
CONTENT WARNING
This production contains use of haze and herbal cigarettes.
Choreographer’s Note
If you are a dreamer, come in If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer... If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire For we have some flax-golden tales to spin Come in! Come in! INVITATION BY SHEL SILVERSTEIN Shel We started as a 9-minute work with four first-year dancers from Unitec and myself in 2012. At this time I had been dancing professionally for four years. Three years with Neil Ieremia (Black Grace) taught me about the external rumble and made me super fit. Then I spent one year with Lemi Ponifasio (Mau), where I learnt about an internal rumble but he also encouraged us to think more deeply and expansively. Throughout the following years while dancing for NZ Dance company, Pacific Dance NZ supported me to extend the work which I did. It grew from 9 minutes to 20 minutes.
In 2017 I decided to knuckle down and make it a full length piece. In 2018, Shel We was produced by Le Moana as a full length piece, premiering at the Measina Festival. After that performance I knew it was time to commit to being a choreographer and an independent artist. Shel We invites you to use your imagination as a way of understanding life. Not using it to escape from reality, but as a way of seeing reality more deeply. This work is ultimately inspired by love, and to me, love is beautifully ordinary.
TUPUA TIGAFUA CHOREOGRAPHER
About Le Moana Le Moana is an independent Arts organisation based in Aotearoa, New Zealand and serves as a vessel for the exchange of stories, concepts and ideas through live performance. The company was established as a pathway for cultural exchange and the development of storytelling by Pacific Islands artists. Producing shows such as Fatu Na Totō, 1918 and Shel We, these works went on to tour internationally and win several awards on the festival circuit. Founded by dance practitioner Tupe Lualua MNZM, Le Moana identified a significant gap in the arts sector for services and resources dedicated to emerging Pacific Islands artists. As a result, Le Moana was established and today serves as an integral springboard for cutting edge theatre performances. @leMoanaArts
@LeMoanaDance
The Team Creator and Choreographer
Tupua Tigafua
Performers
Aloali’i Tapu Christopher Ofanoa Sean MacDonald Tupua Tigafua Villa Lemanu
Lighting Designer
Elekis Poblete Teirney
Design/Technical Adaptation & Operation
Isadora Lao
Stage Manager
Kasi Valu
Company Director
Tupe Lualua
Cover Photo Credit
Stagebox Photography
Other Photo Credits
Moana Leota Pati Solomona Tyrell Stagebox Photography Tavai Taefu
Acknowledgements Creative New Zealand PANNZ – Performing Arts Network New Zealand Le Moana Presented by Brisbane Festival.
About the Artists Tupua Tigafua
Safa’ato’a Lefaga, Faleū Manono, Tāmaki Makaurau Aotearoa
Choreographer / Dancer and Creator of Shel We As the youngest of five children and proud father of four, Tupua’s professional career has seen him dance for some of Aotearoa’s creative powerhouses such as Black Grace and MAU. From 2012-2016 he was a dancer for the New Zealand Dance Company and in that time he performed in the Language of Living national tour of New Zealand where he choreographed Dreamy McFloat. He danced in the Rotunda premiere season at the Holland Dance Festival in 2014 and on the Australasian tour in 2015. Also with New Zealand Dance Company he featured in the premiere season of Lumina in 2015, which toured throughout New Zealand, Germany and Holland in 2016. In 2017, Tupua became an independent Artist and received the Creative New Zealand Emerging Artist Award for the Arts Pasifika Awards. Since then, he has travelled to the Pulima Art Festival in Taiwan with Black Grace and created dance works for Footnote Dance Company, Unitec Institute of Technology, Alofagia Le Opera by TAPA and Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. Tupua’s first original full length work Shel We, premiered at the Measina Festival in Wellington 2018 before touring to the Festival of Cultures in Palmerston North, Kia Mau festival in Wellington. Hawkes Bay Arts Festival, Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, Pacific Dance Festival and the BIBU biennial in Helsingborg, Sweden. Ciggy Butts In The Sand was created in collaboration with award-winning composer David Long in 2021 and his most recent fulllength works 14 Malone Road, also premiered at the Measina Festival in 2023.
As a contributing artist, Tupua created choreography for theatre works such as The Savage Coloniser Show by Tusiata Avia and O Le Pepelo, Le Gaoi Ma Le Pala’ai by IKenSo Productions. He has recently returned from the VASARTS FESTIVAL in Taiwan where he was an artist in residence in collaboration with Paiwan Artist Ljalje’elan Patadalj.
Tupe Lualua MNZM
Sāvaia, Lefaga, Luatuānu’u, Porirua, Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa
Company Director / Founder of Le Moana Tupe, founder of Le Moana and the Measina Festival, is a dreamer raised in Porirua with foundations in live performance. She is an artist, producer and educator who taught Samoan Performing Arts at Whitireia New Zealand, Movement and Creative Practice at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and served as a graduate teaching fellow at Victoria University of Wellington for Pacific Studies (PASI 101: The Pacific Heritage). She created the shows Fatu Na Totō, 1918 and Purple Onion for national and international audiences and has featured in several theatre works to critical acclaim.
She was awarded the CNZ Sāmoa Artist in residence in 2019, Contemporary Artist Award for the Creative NZ Arts Pasifika Awards 2021, FAME Mid-Career Award 2022 and appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order Of Merit in 2024 for Services to the Arts. Tupe continues to mentor young creatives, produce live theatre works for Le Moana and was recently appointed to the project team for Pasifika Festivals Aotearoa INC and LIMA Productions.
Isadora Lao
China, Tāhuna, Kāpiti, Aotearoa
Technician Isadora (Izzi) Lao (they/them) is a Chinese artist and designer currently based on the Kāpiti Coast. Raised in Tāhuna, Aotearoa, their practice is grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and a deep belief in learning through doing. Working across performance, installation, exhibitions, and gathering spaces, Izzi explores how environments can hold memory, emotion, and collective experience. Through a processdriven approach, they collaborate closely with artists and communities, using experimentation, play, and hands-on making to uncover new forms of storytelling and connection. Drawing from lighting, scenography, technical production, object-making, and material exploration,Izzi creates spaces that shift perception and invite presence.
Whether through light, darkness, fabric, handmade objects, or subtle environmental interventions, their work seeks to transform how people experience a place and each other. Largely self-taught, their practice has been shaped through making, observing, and working alongside generous mentors and collaborators. They continue to move fluidly between disciplines, guided by an interest in materiality, atmosphere, and the shared experiences that emerge when people gather together.
Kasi Valu
‘Eua, Ma’ufanga, Lapaha, Tonga, Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa
Stage Manager Kasi Valu is a multidisciplinary Tongan storyteller, actor, playwright, and poet. Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau with roots in Ma’ufanga and Lapaha, Kasi is a 2022 graduate of Te Kura Toi Whakaari o Aotearoa, maintaining a diverse portfolio spanning performance, slam poetry, and arts administration. A former E Tū Whānau Spoken Word winner, he was awarded the 2026 Emerging Pasifika Writer Residency at Victoria University of Wellington. There, he is developing Frangipani Thorns, a multi-genre project blending spoken word, political satire, and community storytelling.
Sean MacDonald
Te Arawa, Kai Tahu, Ngāti Raukawa, Tāmaki Makaurau Aotearoa
Dancer Renowned contemporary dancer and performer Sean MacDonald is one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated and distinguished dance artists. He has worked with New Zealand’s leading choreographers and dance companies, performing extensively throughout Aotearoa and across continents for over 30 years. Highlights of Sean’s longstanding career include performances with Douglas Wright, Michael Parmenter, Shona McCullagh, Moss Paterson, and with Atamira Dance Company, The New Zealand Dance Company, and Black Grace, of whom Sean was a founding member. His collaboration with Black Grace Dance Company spanned over two decades, performing both nationally and internationally. Highlights include many tours of North America with seasons in New York City, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, tours through The Netherlands and Germany and performances in South Korea, Mexico, Japan and Australia. Since 2006 Sean has worked
with Atamira Dance Company and from 2015 in Moss Patterson’s Moko (including a tour to Beijing and South Korea), Kelly Nash’s works Mā and Atamira and Tomo by Gaby Thomas. From 2020 to the present he has been involved in the creation and performance of the company’s seminal work Te Wheke and has just returned from a tour presenting the work to American audiences. The last few years have also seen him appear with Borderline Arts Ensemble in Strasbourg 1518, Malia Johnston’s Movement of the Human(M.O.T.H), Michael Parmenter’s OrphEus with New Zealand Dance Company and Tupua Tigafua’s work Shel We in Sweden/ Aotearoa. 2022 saw him appear with Perth’s Co3 Company and Raewyn Hill performing in the remount of Douglas Wright’s Gloria. In 2023, Sean became an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate receiving the Burr/Tatham Trust Award. He is a national Arts treasure that continues to inspire dancers and audiences alike.
Villa Junior Lemanu
Vailele, Alamagoto, Tāmaki Makaurau Aotearoa
Dancer Villa is a multidisciplinary Samoan movement artist based in Aotearoa. His practice spans dance-theatre creation, film and television (including writing), and community-led dance development. In 2025 he received The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Springboard Award for Dance, which included a year-long mentorship with Lemi Ponifasio. On screen, he appears in The Panthers, Far North, The Legend of Baron To’a, and Duckrockers, with additional voice work in animated TV-Series, Sharkdog. Two key milestones include winning the Toi Whakaari Best Actor award at Show Me Shorts Film Festival in 2018 for My Friend Michael Jones, and again in 2022 for Atali’i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent) (also credited as writer). The 2022 film also received additional festival recognition, further expanding the reach of his work.
On stage, he has featured in O le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala’ai | The Liar, the Thief, and the Coward (Auckland Theatre Company), The Wholehearted (Massive Theatre Company), and Pring It On (Auckland Theatre Company). Within street dance culture, he is a member of Projekt Team, co-founded the Aotearoa Street Dance Film Festival (ASDFF), and has won competition titles including Fusion Concept (NZ Qualifiers), Proof of Existence, Vol. III, and Destructive Steps 16 (2v2 Experimental). Villa was a 2025 Artist in residence at Te Oro, where he created a new work called Chalk Fades and facilitated youth workshops which supported emerging artists in Glen Innes and the surrounding communities. Villa was also the Creative NZ Artist in Residence in Sāmoa in 2023.
Chris Ofanoa
Tonga, Tāmaki Makaurau Aotearoa
Dancer Chris Ofanoa is a Choreographer, Dancer and Fitness trainer who has been in the dance scene for over a decade, dancing with teams such as Triple8funk, Limitbreak Dance Crew and Freshmans. He began his journey with hip hop, participating in competitions and taking classes in his youth. Over time, he transitioned to creating and performing in the theatre, leading him to collaborate with his crew, Freshmans Dance Crew. This group has graced some of New Zealand’s most iconic theatres and performed five sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House in 2025.
Chris has also worked with numerous contemporary dance companies, traveling globally to perform in countries such as China, Germany, Sweden, and USA. Chris is dedicated to helping young people tell their stories and build their confidence through the art of movement. Over the years his insights or simply being a presence that brings laughter and encouragement has been invaluable for youth, Chris aims to contribute positively to the young performers’ confidence and experience. In his role as a professional fitness trainer, he helps people reach their health and fitness goals with encouragement, positivity and honesty.
Aloali’i Tapu
Solosolo, Saleilua, Falealili, Tāmaki Makaurau Aotearoa
Dancer Aloali’i Tapu aka Luko, was born and raised in Otara, New Zealand. He is a co-director of Ta’alili alongside life partner and codreamer Tori Manley-Tapu, the arts group dedicated to bringing their friends, family and community to realise their collective dreams through dance, film, and stage.
He is a devoted dad to 3 funny az kids, and spends most his time dancing and singing with them. He’s a student of krump, house and boogaloo and loves jamming and playing cards with friends. More info about Ta’alili at taalili.co.nz and Luko on his instagram @aloaliitapu.
Andy Tilo-Faiaoga
Luatuānu’u, Nofoali’i, Manono-Tai, Savaia Lefaga, Kirikiriroa Aotearoa.
Dancer Andy is an experienced arts professional with over 15 years working across dance, visual arts, theatre, movement, acting, and stunts, both nationally and internationally. His career bridges the worlds of stage and screen, carrying him from intimate theatre spaces to some of the world’s largest film sets. Over the past six years, Andy has been part of major feature films and television series, including Avatar: The Way of Water directed by James Cameron, Red, White & Brass directed by Damon Fepula’i, Chief of War directed by Justin Choon, and Time Bandits directed by Taika Waititi. As a principal dancer for Le Moana, Andy has featured in 1918, Fatu Na Totō, and Purple Onion by Tupe Lualua and in Shel We and 14 Malone Road by Tupua Tigafua.
As a dancer with Neil Ieremia and the internationally acclaimed company Black Grace, Andy has carried Pacific stories to audiences around the globe. In 2025, he cocreated an original work called Shapes in the Clouds, with his 11 year old son. Beyond his performance career, Andy is deeply committed to cultural revival. He is currently on a journey to research, revive, and reimagine “Tau”. The Samoan martial art and warrior practice exploring its origins, philosophies, and evolution as both a martial discipline and an art form. This work reflects Andy’s dedication to honoring ancestral knowledge while bringing it into conversation with contemporary creative practice. Andy continues to share his gifts with the world, embracing each project as an opportunity to refine his craft as a storyteller.
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