Experience the enriching heartbeat of Pacific culture at the Pacific Dance Festival 25. Celebrate powerful stories and dynamic movement, showcasing dancers from Aotearoa and across the Pacific. Immerse yourself in a fusion of heritage and innovation!
For over 15 years, the Pacific Islands Dance Fono Trust has championed the growth and visibility of Pacific dance in Aotearoa. Through dedication, the Trust has built a powerful legacy of nurturing artists, preserving cultural heritage, and creating platforms for Pacific voices to thrive. From grassroots beginnings to a nationally recognised presence, their vision has shaped the landscape of Pacific performing arts — inspiring generations and enriching Aotearoa’s cultural identity through the vibrant language of movement.
Join us for the Pacific Dance Festival — an enriching celebration of movement, culture, and connection. This annual event showcases the beauty and diversity of Pacific dance, from powerful heritage forms to bold contemporary works. Featuring extraordinary talent from Aotearoa and across the Pacific, each performance brings stories to life through rhythm, expression, and choreography. Experience how each show enriches our understanding of tradition and innovation, inviting you to feel the mana and vibrancy of Pacific culture.
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Stories we share.....June 7, 2025 at 5:00 PMMāngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o UenukuPHAB Pasifika proudly opens the Pacific Dance NZ Festival 2025 with a performance full of heart, energy, and connection.
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Faiva at the MuseumJune 8, 2025 at 11:30 AMAuckland War Memorial MuseumFree Activation
Faiva is more than performance — it’s the living expression of Pacific identity, knowledge, and connection through movement, voice, and heart. Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the creative process in Faiva at the Museum — an open rehearsal that invites audiences into the world of Pacific dance.
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KuramanunyaJune 8, 2025 at 5:00 PMTe Pou Theatre
Corban Estate Arts Centre
2 Mount Lebanon Lane,
Henderson,
Auckland 0612Across 2 Nights. This award-winning solo masterpiece takes centre stage at the Pacific Dance Festival 2025 at Te Pou Theatre, promising a deeply moving and unforgettable experience for audiences. A chance to witness a performance that connects land, spirit, and story
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Auckland Art Gallery
Open Rehearsals
Ura & Ei Katu Workshop
DanceonScreenExperience free Open Rehearsals and Dance Films at Auckland Art Gallery! -
Double Bill
KUINI & SHAPES IN THE CLOUDSJune 10, 2025 at 7:00 PMMāngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o UenukuA Powerful Double Bill Featuring Lyncia Muller & Tauveve Andy Tilo-Faiaoga
Don’t miss this dynamic evening of Pacific storytelling through dance. Lyncia Muller’s KUINI reimagines the poetry of Queen Sālote Tupou III through elegant Tongan movement and contemporary choreography. Tauveve Andy Tilo-Faiaoga’s Shapes in the Clouds blends dance, theatre, and poetry in a heartfelt intergenerational tale.
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MOANA Showcase 2025June 17, 2026 at 7:00 PMMāngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o UenukuA celebration of emerging Pacific talent from Aotearoa’s top dance schools — the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, Unitec Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka, and the New Zealand School of Dance. Witness influential new works that blend heritage and innovation, showcasing the future of Pacific dance.
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'PELE' - The Goddess of Fire
Wednesday 18th June, 7 pm
Thursday 19th June, 7 pmMāngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o UenukuExperience 'Pele'- The Goddess of Fire the legendary Hawaiian deity at the Pacific Dance Festival tells the story of the legendary Hawaiian deity Pele, who falls into a deep sleep and dreams of Prince Lohiauʻipo of Kauaʻi. When she wakes, she sends her sister, Hiʻiakaikapoliopele, to bring the Prince back to her. But as time passes, Pele grows impatient and suspicious — setting off a chain of events filled with emotion, tension, and transformation.
