Whangarei Girls’ High School Whangarei Girls’ High School

Level 3 Pasifika Dance - Culture and Creative Expression

3PAS
Course Description

‘O le tagata ma lona aiga, o la tagata ma lona faasinomaga’: Every person has a family, every person has an identity.

Explore Pasifika heritage. Create a Performance. Express your story.

This course explores the richness, resilience and diversity of Pacific cultures through art, storytelling, history, and creative expression. Students will explore how Pacific peoples share identity, values, migration stories and contemporary issues through a range of cultural forms including tātatau (tattoo), visual art, dance, spoken word, and performance.

Students will connect with their own identities, learn about the geography and histories of Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean), and create original works that express who they are and where they come from. Students can work through movement, art, spoken word, research, or digital storytelling to reflect their learning.

Learning Opportunities

In this course you will need to:

Develop these skills:Explore this content:
  • Dance and Performance confidence.
  • Explore Pacific design, tātatau, tapa, dance and song as cultural carriers.
  • Cultural understanding.
  • Create a project (e.g. art, short film, performance, or presentation) that tells a personal or cultural story.
  • Relationship building.
  • Examine real-world events such as the Dawn Raids or the Polynesian Panthers.
  • Critical thinking.
  • Explore the role of rangatahi (youth) in sustaining and reshaping cultural traditions.
  • Creativity in communication.
  • Research a cultural figure, event, or movement significant to Pacific people in NZ or the wider Moana.
  • Self- awareness and cultural identity.

Opportunities:

Perform at or attend Auckland ASB Polyfest. Visit the University of Auckland or other universities to look at further education opportunities. Participate in workshops with external organisations. Attend performances in the local area and Auckland. Listen to guest speakers and watch guest performers.



Year Levels/Departments:

Dance, Seniors


Assessment Information

A range of Dance and cross curricular credits. (up to 16 UE and other credits)