Samoan dancers to showcase their culture in Sunbury

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Traditional Samoan dancers will showcase their culture and their polytechnic across Australia during September, and Sunbury’s Salesian College is on their itinerary.

A troupe of 45 students from Don Bosco Technical Centre in Alafua, Samoa will perform at a siva community concert hosted by Salesian College on August 28.

The free concert will be part of a three-week promotional tour by the students.

They will perform at parishes, schools, youth centres and communities around the country.

Salesian College deputy principal Dr Michael Grace said the principal of Don Bosco Technical Centre, Father Chris Ford, was an alumni of Salesian College, which sparked a partnership with colleges in Australia.

The Don Bosco Technical Centre provides second-chance education for boys and young men, aged 16 to 22 years, who have not successfully completed mainstream secondary schooling.

“Most of the boys come from poor families, many previously dropped out of school, and many face serious family and social problems,” he said.

“Since its inception in 1989, the Don Bosco Technical Centre has been renowned for its traditional siva, meaning dance, which is also a deeply ingrained and essential element of Samoan life and culture.”

The free Siva community concert will be held at St Anne’s community centre on Sunday August 28 at 7pm.

Details: 9744-0000