Page 27 - Fiji Traveller 8

By Prerna Priyanka But while the international stage has been a pivotal part of
his career, it’s the homegrown talent and the evolution of Fiji’s
At just 16, Navi Fong stumbled into a dance studio in Fiji and dance scene that truly inspire him.
unknowingly stepped onto a path that would see him enthral “The more voices we have, the more diverse the reflection of
Fijians and people across the globe. our dance sector is of what Fiji is.”
Fong is a mesmerising presence on stage, his long hair and Fong’s role at VOU has evolved significantly.
tall, strong frame commanding attention. But since his stage While he still trains dancers, he now focuses on creating and
debut, he has developed many other creative talents. nurturing new pieces.
“I joined VOU in 2011 when I was a student in their school. It “My focus is slowly shifting towards creating, and I guess,
was just an extracurricular after-school activity at the time, but it conceptualising and just keeping the whole artistic vision alive,”
became so much more,” Fong recalls. he shares.
From this after-school hobby was ignited a passion that would “This vision isn’t just about dance - it's about reflecting the real,
lead him to become the artistic director of VOU, Fiji’s most lived experiences of Fijians.”
celebrated dance company. One of his dancers recently choreographed a Meke about
Fong’s early years were typical of many young Fijians. alcoholism, drawing from a research trip to Vanua Levu.
He attended Marist Brothers High School before finishing at “It’s really just looking at the realities around us,” Fong says.
International School Suva, where dance was just another activity “Not always the bad ones, but trying to reflect our realities as
in the school calendar. Fijians of today.”
“Attending school here in Fiji, you always end up dancing Respecting tradition while embracing contemporary issues is
somehow - in school concerts and everything,” he says. a delicate balance that Fong navigates with care.
But it wasn’t until he discovered contemporary dance at VOU “When we create Meke, we go about it the traditional way,
that his interest in the art form bloomed. even though the subject matter might be contemporary,” he
After finishing high school in 2012, Fong auditioned for a full- explains.
time position with VOU. This means following the cultural protocols, such as presenting
“I started off with just dancing at the beginning,” he says. Sevusevu to the villages and working closely with Dau Ni Vulu
But Fong’s journey was far from one-dimensional. He (traditional healers or storytellers).
immersed himself in every aspect of the company, dabbling in However, when it comes to contemporary dance, Fong finds
costuming, helping with social media, and eventually, teaching. more freedom to explore and innovate.
“I was learning the different tricks of the trade within the dance Fong is proud of VOU’s role in fostering Fiji’s dance sector. He
company,” he explains. sees the emergence of new dance collectives, like those led by
It was choreography that ultimately captured his heart. former VOU dancers, as a positive sign.
“Once I dipped my toes in choreography, that was the end. I “The more diverse the reflection of our dance sector, the truer
knew I’d found my family, my thing, and I started going deeper it is of what Fiji is,” he says.
into choreography.” This diversity, he believes, enriches the entire Fijian arts
Over the years, Fong has travelled the world with VOU, landscape.
performing in countries as diverse as Canada, China, and Last year, Navi Fong was recognised with the ‘Rising Star’
Uzbekistan. award at the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards. His many
“I think my first tour was in 2014 to the Melanesian Arts Festival talents will ensure his star continues to rise.
in PNG,” he remembers fondly.

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