Songs, dances and gestures bring small islands’ stories to life, showing unity and pride among students
The Tuvalu Club showcased their heritage through traditional dance, wearing floral headbands with a red flower behind the ear and colorful costumes.Their ribbons, in pink, red, yellow and green, featured traditional Tuvalu patterns woven between the colors. Energetic and coordinated, their movements brought to life the spirit of their theme: “Small Islands, Unshaken Hearts.We Rise.”
Logotau Avanitele, a junior from Tuvalu studying information technology and the club president, said the performance featured songs chosen to represent the heart of Tuvalu. “When we sing and dance to ‘Vili Ee,’ ‘Foki ki te Fenua,’ and ‘Lele Manu,’ we feel our island, our people, and our ancestors,” he said. “We wanted the audience to see the real Tuvalu, not just a performance, but our heart.”
Avanitele said the songs convey Tuvaluan values of unity, love and respect. “‘Foki ki te Fenua’ reminds us that our homeland is precious.‘Vili Ee’ shows how we call each other forward and support one another.‘Lele Manu’ shows strength and moving together. In Tuvalu, no one stands alone—we stand together,” he said. He added that performing together also helps students feel connected to each other and to their homeland, even when far away. The choreography brought those songs to life on stage. Susana
Eliasia, a freshman majoring in elementary education from Australia choreographing the women, said some movements directly follow the lyrics. “In ‘Lele Manu,’ the song talks about birds flying, so we have a movement where we spread our arms and move like birds flying gracefully in the sky,” she said. She added that performing the dances helped her reconnect to her Tuvaluan heritage. “Dancing for Tuvalu outside of my country makes me feel connected to my people,” Eliasia said.
For the men’s section, freshman Pekekina Manuila, studying information technology choreographed and said movements for “ Tupu Ake Te Tuli” is a song telling the story of the Prophet Jonah and the cultural significance of the tuli birds. “Through the music and lyrics, we want the audience to experience the emotions, struggles and ultimate obedience that Jonah faced,” Manuila said. “It reminds us that when God calls us to serve, we must respond faithfully and with courage.”
