Samoan Courses
Welcome to Sāmoa, the beautiful treasured Islands of the South Pacific. The courses from Sāmoa include Siva Sāmoa, Sāmoa Fa'ataupati, Siva Afi (Fire Knife Dancing) and Sāmoan Language Classes.

Choose the course and level you wish to enroll in. Videos are pre-recorded and released weekly so you can complete course at your own pace.

All our dance courses include;

Z

9 Week course (week 9 assessment week- students have up to three weeks to complete assessments)

Z

8 weeks of video lessons

Z

Strengthening technique

Z

Choreography

Z

Cultural knowledge

Z

Certificate of completion awarded at the end of course upon completing assessment.

Z

Progress videos and feedback every fortnight

Z

Virtual classroom

Z

Practical and theory (quiz) assessment in week NINE

Z

Regular updates on cultural knowledge and information

Level 1

This is the introductory level. Tailored for students who have little to no experience in pasifika style dance.

Level 2

This level is for students who have some knowledge in pasifika style dancing or who have completed level 1 in previous terms.

Level 3

This skill level is reserved for people who have danced in this style before or who have completed level 2 in term 3.

Siva Afi - Beginners

Students will learn basic steps to siva afi, routine and cultural information about the siva afi

Gender: All | Ages: All | Term Length: 9 weeks
Price: $124.79
Instructor: Moemoana Schwenke

Level 1

 

On successful completion of the Siva Afi Beginners Course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the history and origins of Siva Afi
  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge of how to correctly hold, handle and look after their Siva Afi practise stick
  • Understand safe dance practice, including:
    • practising in environments that hold enough space
    • practising in environments away from young children or fragile objects to avoid potential accidents
  • Confidently execute basic Siva Afi movements including:
    • Vili tasi (One hand spin)
    • Fa’aka’amilo i kua (Around the back)
    • Vili lua (Two hand spin)
    • Other

– Confidently execute Siva Afi technique and warm up drills

  • Demonstrate the correct stance, posture and alignment of the basic movements
  • Perform the learnt routine and combinations by the end of the course
  • Execute learnt movements with confidence and warrior-like strength

 

Level 2

This course is for students who are interested in learning the basic movements and techniques of Siva Afi or Fire-Knife dancing at a beginners level. In the Siva Afi Beginners Level 2, students will learn:

 

  • New basic Siva Afi movements and techniques
  • Harder combinations of Siva Afi movements
  • Warm-up drills that work on speed and control of movements
  • Kneeling and ground motions
  • How to correctly hold and handle their Siva Afi practise stick
  • Correct stance, posture and alignment
  • Siva Afi origins, and some important Samoan mythology, and historical or cultural knowledge
  • How to confidently execute Siva Afi movements in a new Siva Afi routine
  • How to execute movements with warrior-like strength

 

Participants are required to practise daily or weekly in order to keep up with class content.

 

Note: students will not be dancing with fire due to safety, this course objective is to learn a routine with practise stick only.

Level 3

LEVEL THREE- Continuing on with routine taught from previous levels and excelling to harder combination of moves.

 

Siva Afi - Intermediate

Students will more advanced steps to siva afi, routine and cultural information about the siva afi

Gender: All | Ages: All | Term Length: 9 weeks
Price: $124.79
Instructor: Frederick Schwenke

Level 1

 

LEVEL ONE-Note: students will not be dancing with fire due to safety, this course objective is to learn a routine with practise stick only.

On successful completion of the Siva Afi Intermediate Course, students will be able to: 

  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the history and origins of Siva Afi
  • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of how to correctly hold, handle and look after their Siva Afi practise stick
  • Understand safe dance practice, including:
    • practising in environments that hold enough space 
    • practising in environments away from young children or fragile objects to avoid potential accidents
  • Confidently execute basic and more difficult Siva Afi movements
  • Demonstrate difficult motions, throws and speed of spins (without dropping the practise stick)
  • Confidently execute Siva Afi technique and warm up drills
  • Demonstrate the correct stance, posture and alignment of the basic movements
  • Perform the learnt routine and combinations by the end of the course
  • Demonstrate learnt movements with confidence and warrior-like strength
  • Demonstrate standing, kneeling and ground motions
  • Demonstrate or identify basic Siva Afi doubles movements

There will be assessment of routine in week 9, whereby students will be required to send in   routine via video for assessment.

Certificate to be awarded on completion of course.

Level 2

LEVEL TWO-

  • Siva Afi movements and techniques
  • Harder combinations of Siva Afi movements
  • Warm-up drills that work on speed and control of movements
  • How to confidently execute Siva Afi movements in a new Siva Afi routine
  • How to execute movements with warrior-like strength

 

Note: students will not be dancing with fire due to safety, this course objective is to learn a routine with practise stick only.

Level 3

LEVEL THREE- Will continue on with routine taught in Level two.

  • Siva Afi movements and techniques
  • Harder combinations of Siva Afi movements
  • Warm-up drills that work on speed and control of movements
  • How to confidently execute Siva Afi movements in a new Siva Afi routine
  • How to execute movements with warrior-like strength

 

Note: students will not be dancing with fire due to safety, this course objective is to learn a routine with practise stick only.

Moemoana Schwenke

Siva Afi & Oceanic Instructor

Moemoana Schwenke has extensive experience with various Pacific cultural arts, locally and internationally. She has placed 1st runner up in the womens category for the 2019 World Fire-Knife Competition in Hawaii, she has participated in the 2017 Te Maeva Nui dance competition in Rarotonga, 2019 Heiva I Tahiti Festival representing legendary group O Tahiti E, 2019 Teuila Festival as a guest artist and much more.

Frederick Schwenke

Siva Afi & Fa'ataupati Instructor

Frederick is one of the founders and directors of Matavai Cultural Arts and has extensive experience on a local and international stage.

Siva Samoa - Juniors - Beginners

Students will learn siva technique, taualuga style siva, a sāsā as well as language and cultural knowledge and legends.

Gender: Female | Ages: 4-12yrs | Term Length: 9 weeks
Price: $104.05

Instructor: Maryjane Schwenke

Level 1

 

Level one- Introduction to siva taualuga taught by Maryjane Mckibbin Schwenke

Students will learn siva technique, taualuga style siva, a sāsā as well as language and cultural knowledge and legends.

Level 2

SIVA SAMOA JUNIOR BEGINNERS LEVEL TWO– This course is for students who completed the level one course successfully.

Upon completion of this course students will learn a Maulu’ulu style siva titled ‘Le Ekalesia’, a coconut dance ‘Siva ipu popo’ as well as cultural knowledge pertaining to geography, traditional items, iconic Samoans, legends and more!

Level 3

SIVA SAMOA JUNIOR BEGINNERS LEVEL THREE – this course is for students who completed the level Two course successfully. Upon completion of this course students will learn a maulu’ulu style siva entitled ‘Samoa La’u Pele’, and will be expanding on the coconut dance ‘Siva ipu popo’, as well as cultural knowledge pertaining to geography, traditional items, iconic Samoans, legends and more!

Siva Samoa - Open Age - Beginners

Students will learn siva technique, taualuga style siva, a sāsā as well as language and cultural knowledge and legends.

Gender: Female | Ages: 13+ | Term Length: 9 weeks
Price: $104.05

Instructor: Maryjane Schwenke

Level 1

 

LEVEL ONE Introduction to siva taualuga taught by Maryjane Mckibbin Schwenke

Students will learn siva technique, taualuga style siva, a sāsā as well as language and cultural knowledge and legends.

 

Level 2

SIVA SAMOA OPEN AGE BEGINNERS LEVEL TWO

This course is for students who completed the level one course successfully. Upon completion of this course students will learn a Maulu’ulu style siva titled ‘Samoa la’u pele’, a coconut dance ‘Siva ipu popo’ as well as cultural knowledge pertaining to geography, traditional items, iconic Samoans, legends  and more!

Level 3

SIVA SAMOA LEVEL THREE OPEN AGE 13+ (or has previous siva experience and would like to learn Nifo oti)

This course is for students who completed the level two course successfully. Upon completion of this course students will learn how to use nifo oti in a siva taualuga as well as expanding on the Siva ipu popo from level two, cultural knowledge will include Social Hierarchy, Cultural protocols, costume making, sustainable practises and ancient stories from Samoa. Students under 13 years of age can also join however it will be a higher level of difficulty.

 

Siva Samoa - Intermediate

Intermediate level is for students who have experience in siva Samoa, this level focuses on expression and slightly higher technical difficulty. Students will also learn a coconut dance ‘Siva ipu popo’ as well as cultural knowledge pertaining to geography, traditional items, iconic Samoans, legends and more! There is much emphasis on conveying emotion during siva in this course.

Gender: Female | Ages: 13+ | Term Length: 9 weeks
Price: $104.05

Instructor: Maryjane Schwenke

Level 1

 

SIVA SAMOA INTERMEDIATE LEVEL ONE

Siva Samoa intermediate is a continuation of dances learnt in previous terms online. This is a difficult level as Maryjane revisits and goes over harder dances at the beginning of the course. On completion of this course Students will learn 2 beautiful siva taualuga and connect words with actions.

 

Level 2

SIVA SAMOA INTERMEDIATE LEVEL TWO

This course is for students who completed the level one course successfully. Upon completion of this course students will learn a Maulu’ulu style siva titled ‘Tamasese’ as well as the meaning and history behind the song. Students will also learn a coconut dance ‘Siva ipu popo’ as well as cultural knowledge pertaining to geography, traditional items, iconic Samoans, legends and more! There is much emphasis on conveying emotion during siva in this course.

 

Level 3

LEVEL THREE- This course is for students who completed the level two course successfully. Upon completion of this course students will learn how to use nifo oti in a siva taualuga as well as expanding on the Siva ipu popo from level two, cultural knowledge will include Social Hierarchy, Cultural protocols, costume making, sustainable practises and ancient stories from Samoa. Students under 13 years of age can also join however it will be a higher level of difficulty.

 

Maryjane Schwenke

Siva Samoa Instructor

Maryjane has extensive experience on the local and international stage in Polynesian cultural arts and performances spanning over 20 years.

Fa'ataupati - Beginners

This course is an introduction to siva Samoa for boys and men. Students will learn a fa’ataupati routine, short sāsā and how to aiuli.

Gender: All | Ages: All | Term Length: 9 weeks
Price: $104.05

Instructor: Frederick Schwenke

Level 1

 

Fa’ataupati LEVEL ONE- BEGINNERS

This course is an introduction to siva Samoa for boys and men, taught by Frederick Schwenke students will learn a fa’ataupati routine, short sāsā and how to aiuli.

 

Level 2

Fa’ataupati BEGINNERS LEVEL TWO- Students will learn a action song, fa’ataupati routine and aiuli technique as well cultural knowledge pertaining to geography, traditional items, iconic Samoans  and more!

 

Level 3

 

LEVEL 3 OPEN AGE  FA’ATAUPATIthis course is for all age students who completed the level two course successfully. Upon completion of this course students will learn fa’ataupati dances and action songs, cultural knowledge will include Social Hierarchy, Cultural protocols, costume making, sustainable practises and ancient stories from Samoa.

 

Fa'ataupati - Intermediate

This course is for students with experience in siva Samoa for boys and men, taught by Frederick Schwenke students will learn a fa’ataupati routine, short sāsā and how to aiuli.

Gender: All | Ages: All | Term Length: 9 weeks
Price: $104.05

Instructor: Frederick Schwenke

Level 1

 

This course is for students with experience in siva Samoa for boys and men, taught by Frederick Schwenke students will learn a fa’ataupati routine, short sāsā and how to aiuli.

 

Level 2

Fa’ataupati INTERMEDIATE LEVEL TWO- Students will learn a action song, fa’ataupati routine and aiuli technique as well cultural knowledge pertaining to geography, traditional items, iconic Samoans  and more! Level of difficulty is high.

 

Level 3
 

LEVEL 3 OPEN AGE  FA’ATAUPATIthis course is for all age students who completed the level two course successfully. Upon completion of this course students will learn fa’ataupati dances and action songs, cultural knowledge will include Social Hierarchy, Cultural protocols, costume making, sustainable practises and ancient stories from Samoa.

 

Frederick Schwenke

Siva Afi & Fa'ataupati Instructor

Frederick is one of the founders and directors of Matavai Cultural Arts and has extensive experience on a local and international stage.