Boosted Stories: Tia Sagapolutele

Here, dancer and choreographer Ufitia Sagapolutele talks about her work, her inspiration and her experience with Boosted.  

Talofa lava Ufitia. 
It’s lovely to speak with you.

Tell us about your creative practice. What are the driving forces behind your work?

Malo lava, my name is Ufitia. I am an Aotearoa-born Samoan creative dance artist. My creative practice derives from my lived experiences as part of the diaspora in Aotearoa. It deals with navigating between the integration of my culture and practice and how the two form personal identities.

My creative journey began when I shifted from being a dancer in the hip-hop dance community to being an independent artist in the arts industry. I particularly became more interested in learning about Samoan culture and how I could interweave siva with my love for hip-hop and contemporary dance. Thus discovering my choreographic voice which combines siva Samoa, hip-hop, and contemporary dance together.

What are the themes and messages behind your creative practice?

All my works have important concepts and messages behind them. My first work as an artist is called AVE, which is about six women of the Pacific who explore ideologies around colonisation, cultural belonging and the challenges they face as Aotearoa-born Pasifika women on their search for identity. This was a pivotal moment for me in my artistic journey, as it really solidified my position in the arts industry. It helped me recognise the importance of sharing stories from a young Pasifika perspective with the wider community.

Another work I created is called Meaalofa Mamafa: A Heavy Gift. It explores the ideology behind names and birthright through personal experiences, as well as the challenges faced along the way. This particular work was something I had always wanted to touch on. I found that most brown people could relate to this concept with their own experiences of mispronunciation of their names, feeling embarrassed and wishing they had a more ‘easier’ name to fit in. I wanted to create a work that showcased these struggles but also show the journey of how important our names are and reclaiming it. I feel it’s important to be able to use my artform to express important matters from a brown perspective.

I currently only work and collaborate with women of the Moana. I feel I naturally gravitate towards other brown wāhine because of the stories I seek to share. I wanted to work with others who can relate and understand my vision and stories on a personal level.

What most inspires you as a Pasifika artist in Aotearoa’s arts community?

I would say my aiga (family) and late parents inspire me to keep creating. Being an artist is definitely hard because we have to constantly support ourselves financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I am so grateful my aiga support the mahi that I do, especially my oldest brother Raymond Sagapolutele, who is also an artist. My friends and mentors in the arts community inspire and support me in many ways, as well as artists such as Tyler The Creator, BTS and Kendrick Lamar who share their perspectives and raw emotions through art. I want to keep challenging and exploring as an artist, while inspiring young Māori and Pasifika people.

Tell us about the role that Boosted played in getting your creative mahi off the ground.

I was blessed with the opportunity to go to South Korea for an artist trip, as well as take two of my works and perform them at an arts festival in Wellington in 2019. Boosted played a huge part in supporting these two trips. I had to fund myself for both trips, so I am super grateful Boosted is a platform where many artists can gain support from others in the community.

Any words of advice for artists who are looking to crowdfund?

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there.

I know the thought of asking for help may feel hard and vulnerable, but that is what community is all about – to support and help each other, especially during times like these. Platforms like Boosted are not just a platform for financial support, Boosted also gives the opportunity for others to learn about who you are as an artist and the work that you create.

What is something that you’re currently working on?

Just like many other artists in Aotearoa, I missed out on opportunities that were abroad. At the moment, I am working on personal projects and projects with my team. Most importantly, I am working on my mental health and wellbeing. I feel that sometimes, as artists, we forget to look after ourselves. Know that rest and self-care are equally as important as creating.

Fa’afetai tele lava for your time, Ufitia. 

Check out Ufitia’s former Boosted projects AVE and Dancer off to South Korea.

Want to know more about running a project on Boosted? We'd love to hear from you, just email us.