THE CAST
anasetasia
mackay
Anasetasia is a New Zealand born Samoan singer-songwriter from Auckland. She is a versatile artist with her original music sitting in the soul, R&B and pop ballad genres. Anasetasia studied classical voice at the University of Auckland under Dr Morag Atchison. She released her first EP in December 2021. Anasetasia hopes to inspire others with her soulful voice, heartfelt words and warm smile.
george
kaisala-hadfield
George is a New Zealand born Samoan/Māori, is 24 and recently graduated from the Excel School of Performing Arts with a Diploma in Music. “Pacifica the Musical” is his debut theatre performance.
henry
auva'a
Henry is an actor, singer and writer from Auckland, New Zealand who graduated with a diploma in Drama Studies and Acting in 2021. Henry enjoys musical theatre. His favourite musicals are Hadestown and Hamilton. His first professional gig after drama school (I Got You) a vertical series now streaming on all social media platforms has fuelled a fire in him that he didn't think he had. His hobbies include Volleyball (Represented NZ for 5 years) photography and travel. Henry will be moving to LA in January to further his studies in acting and hopes that this opportunity will branch out to a hopeful acting career.
latoia
sasa-tepania
(coco)
My physique is that of solid build, like my maunga that stands tall and strong.
I am a full-bodied woman with round curves which outline the river bends of my awa.
I have big brown eyes that have seen the struggles and triumphs of my whanau, past and present.
The two feet I stand on represent my Samoan and Māori wakas. Both keep me moving for my aiga, iwi into the future.
My innate creativity has been passed down through the bloodlines of my Māori and Samoan ancestors.
My family have nurtured these gifts and it is through their teachings and love, I have found; Who I am.
Kia Ora, Talofa
My name is Latoia Virginia Sasa-Tepania. I am a creative who loves shapes and patterns. A creative who loves colours, movement and sound. It is with these I make sense of the world I live in.
Valerie
fasavalu
Valerie Lagimaina Fasavalu was born in Samoa and bred in South Auckland, New Zealand. She is full Samoan and proud of it. An extraordinary singer who has been a backing vocalist for Sammy Johnson and sung alongside some of the best artists from NZ. However, the most rewarding opportunity given to Valerie is having the chance to perform for her community accompanied by her brothers and sisters. Being raised in a Samoan AOG church has played a big part in her love for music, and has shaped her into the person she is today. Valerie's family and community mean the world to her "They are what drive me to be the best that I can be. My success is a reflection of the support from my village. Faafetai lava"
jiordyn
hoeft
Jiordyn is a Cook Island / Māori performer who represents Arorangi and Ngāpuhi. Jiordyn is a hip hop dancer that specializes in freestyle movement and has been in the dance battle scene for a number of years. He is a national champion and has represented New Zealand at the World Hip Hop Championships. He brings a style that always carries a hip-hop bounce and a unique flare that is all his own.
sarah
williams
Sarah was raised in Gisborne before moving up to Auckland to pursue a career as a performing artist. Sarah is an amazing mover who has expertise in a wide range of dance styles. Sarah has been trained in various classical and street styles and brings an energy to the stage that captures audiences and brings the music to life. Sarah is a graduate of Excel School of Performing Arts and hails from Ngāpuhi.
anna
grahame
Anna Grahame's soulful sound has taken her around the world, performing backing vocals with some of New Zealand’s most talented artists including TEEKS, Tami Neilson and Lavina Williams. Nelson-bred Anna grew up on the stage, with regular performances in choirs, musical theatre productions and local events. Now based in Auckland, Anna shares her love for music and harmony by singing on a variety of stages for events including Coca Cola Christmas in the Park, The World Masters Games, Festival One and the Aotearoa Music Awards.
gibson
harris
Gibz is a Māori creative who was raised in the far north of New Zealand. Growing up in a musical family, Gibz began his own journey with music when he was fifteen, by moving to Tāmaki Makaurau to study at some of New Zealand’s leading institutes such as Excel School of Performing Arts, Mainz and SAE Creative Media Institute. Gibz has made a name for himself with his bands: Chemamari and ‘Tonez & Gibz’, while also playing live shows around Aotearoa with bands such as 1814, Troy Kingi and international R&B sensations Musiq Soulchild and Jeremy Passion. Gibz recently played the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre and the ASB Waterfront Theatre with Freshman’s Dance Crew and Hawaiki Tu.
irene
folau
Irene Folau is a young professional singer and musician, who performs nationally and internationally. Irene has been a vocalist with Sammy J, Stan Walker and Tree Vaifale. In 2021 Irene travelled to Dubai as a background vocalist at the World Expo. Irene is of Tongan descent, South-Auckland born and raised, and served as a Wayfinder in the Southside Rise Movement (2017-2019) and is also a member of the
Black Friars Theatre Company. Along with Irene’s musical career, she is currently an undergraduate in Civil Engineering at the University of Auckland. Through Pacific performance, Irene is engaged in the work of reaching back and pulling forward, honouring her ancestors, elevating traditional literacies, growing our future leaders and encouraging other young Pasifika people to walk tall in both of their worlds.
nick
afoa
Nick grew up in South Auckland and is of Samoan and Croatian descent. Nick is a tenor, who has had an international stage career playing Simba in the Lion King in London’s West End and Sydney. Nick returned to New Zealand from England just over a year ago and has forged a career as a vocal coach and co-director with
Pacifica the Musical. Nick also has two cameo roles in the show.
chris
ofanoa
Chris is our most experienced dancer on the Pacifica dance team. Chris is Tongan / European from Ha’apai and Felemea. He is a graduate of the Unitec Contemporary Dance programme and has travelled the world with the likes of the New Zealand Dance Company, White Face Crew and Le Moana Arts. Chris has an extensive history in both contemporary dance and hip hop dance and fuses those worlds to create a unique style of movement. He is a senior choreographer and board member of the Fresh Movement Arts Trust and continues to represent New Zealand on stages around the world.
kimberley
evans
Kim is an amazing mover and has been performing in theatre productions for over five years. Her experience on the stage shows through her performance and through her ability to bring a story to life through dance. Kimberley has represented New Zealand at the World Hip Hop dance championships and is a senior choreographer of Freshmans Dance Crew. Kimberley is a Māori artist from Ngāti Kuri.
william
rakena
William aka Don Bvck is not only a world champion in hip hop dance, but is also one of the top krumpers in New Zealand. William brings an energy and hype to the stage that is raw, rugged and real. William has already been crowned a world champion at the HHI Championships in the USA, but is set to take his career even further as he continues to amaze audiences and grow as a world class performer. William represents Te Hāpua and Vava’u.
ezra
williams
Ezra graduated from the Manukau Institute of Technology in 2016 with a Bachelor of Creative Arts. A singer, dancer, and actress, Ezra has been a vocalist on tours nationally and internationally for headlining music events, competed in dance competitions nationwide & overseas, and debuted her acting skills in musical theatre. Ezra’s theatre credits include Romeo & Juliet (Manukau Institute of Technology), and People Like Us, one of the first transgender musicals in New Zealand. Madagascar (GMG Productions NZ) The Little Shop of Horrors (The Court Theatre). Professional highlights include winning Best Pacific Female Artist and Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist at the Pacific Music Awards in 2019.
hadleigh
pouesi
Hadleigh is of Samoan descent and is a creative youth development practitioner who uses the arts as a vehicle for youth development. Over his 16 year career as a creative, he has excelled in the realm of hop hop/street dance. He now directs the Fresh Movement Arts Trust and Freshmans Dance Crew; these platforms are used to explore new pathways for young creatives beyond the competition space. As well as his hip hop background, Hadleigh pulls from
contemporary dance, Siva Samoa, kapa haka and physical theatre to create a vocabulary that is unique and engaging.
jerry-moses
roebeck
Jerry-Moses Roebeck is of Samoan/Niuean descent, who was born and raised in West Auckland. As a singer/songwriter, Jerry-Moses goes under the name Jay Emz. Jerry-Moses is a professional backing vocalist for many NZ and international artists such as: Fia, Stan Walker, Sammy J and many more. In the words of Jerry-Moses, “Singing has always been a part of my life since I was a child, starting from church (Glen Eden Methodist Church). Singing also helps me stay grounded. My family mean everything to me; they have moulded me into the man I am today and if there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love music, but most of all, I LOVE MY NANA Faafetai”.
Selevasio
tu'ima
Selavasio (known as Sio) is a 19 year old vocalist of Tongan descent. He is a member of the group Tone6, along with being a solo artist. “What a privilege it is to be presented with the opportunity to showcase two things that I value greatly in life; performing arts and culture. I’ve been blessed enough to have been submerged into art and music when I was very young, through singing in church with my family. At the age of nine, I attended a Performing Arts programme called Saintz Up Performing Arts (SUPA) where I was selected for a music group that is still thriving today; Tone 6”.
emma
huch
Though she is young, Emma is one of the most experienced Hip Hop/Street dancers in New Zealand. She has been competing on international stages since she was four years old and has captured numerous international championships along the way. Emma is currently studying at the University of Auckland and has expanded her repertoire of movement dramatically over the past few years. She is set to take the world by storm and is one of New Zealand's top dancers to keep an eye on. Emma is full Samoan and is from the village of Magiagi.
leilani
elliott
Leilani is a Samoan dancer/choreographer from Fusi Saluafata, Malaela & Sinamoga. Leilani has been in the street dance industry for over 10 years and has captured championships in multiple international dance competitions. Leilani is a gifted dancer and choreographer and carries a maturity in her movement that is beyond her years. Leilani is set to become one of the top choreographers that will take New Zealand dance to another level.
zhan
teiho
Born and raised in Massey, West Auckland, Zhan is one of New Zealand's top up-and-coming dancers and has already made a name for himself in the choreography industry and in the freestyle scene in New Zealand. He has toured throughout the Pacific, Australia and the USA as a dancer and is only just getting started in his career as a performing artist. Zhan is from Takuvaine and Ngāti Hauā.