2010 Pacific Music Award Winners 'Te Vaka' to perform in Victoria July 29

PPP - Victoria BC

Te Vaka, an incredible Polynesian‐rock fusion ensemble and recipient of the ‘Best Pacific Group’ award at the 2010 Pacific Music Awards will be performing on Thursday July 29th at the Victoria Event Centre. They will also be holding Polynesian dance & music workshops on July 27th and 28th. The concert and workshops are being presented by the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership (PPP) with the support of Creative New Zealand (New Zealand’s Art Council), the University of Victoria’s Centre for Asia Pacific Initiatives and Metropol.

The group’s eight performers originate from across Polynesia, including Tokelau, Cook Islands, New Zealand, and Samoa. Te Vaka’s distinct style embodies the diversity of South Pacific cultures, combining traditional Polynesian languages, dance, and rhythmic music with modern rock to create a colourfully unique Polynesian‐rock fusion enjoyed by audiences around the world. Te Vaka’s impressive resume includes performances in 37 different countries, six original CD releases, and headline performances at numerous international music festivals.

PPP is a Victoria based non‐profit organization that works in support of Indigenous peoples throughout the South Pacific and Canada; developing connections between peoples who similarly seek to uphold their cultures, languages, environment, and rights. Parallel with the goals of PPP, Te Vaka’s music celebrates Pacific cultures through language, dance, and rhythm. Their music lyrically weaves the history of the South Seas into the present, calling urgent attention to challenges such as global warming that threaten the existence and vitality of Pacific cultures, communities and the sensitive environments upon which they depend.

Te Vaka will perform at the Victoria Events Centre at 1415 Broad St. on July 29th, 2010. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. They are available at the Victoria Events Centre website, Lyle’s Place, and through the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership. Doors open at 7:00 pm, and the show will begin at 8:00 pm.

For more information on either the concert or participation in the workshops, please call 250‐381‐4131 or visit www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org