The highly skillful art of traditional fire dancing, Siva Afi, will be on display this week as competitors battle for the right to be called Samoa's best fire dancer.

The art of the fire dance became part of Samoan culture in the 1880s. Historians believe that this was taken from a travelling circus which visited Samoa in the 19th century.

Samoan scholars say they were all amazed at the feat of a fire-eater and soon this became part of the dances that are now performed more commonly for entertainment.

Organisers of the Siva Afi competition, the Siva Afi Company believes the annual competition plays an important role in the preservation of this art.

This year's performance is not only one of the biggest ever hosted but offers the biggest prize money ever in the competition's history.

The Siva Afi Company owner Leota Lene Leota shared the Siva Afi competition has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

"The Siva Afi Club was formed up from street vendors, street kids and disadvantaged youths," he said. "This traditional performance is an opportunity for them to make it big in the entertainment world". 

Fire dancers from the Siva Afi Club have received contracts from all over the world to perform on the international stage such as Disneyland in Hong Kong and Disneyland in Los Angeles and even in international circuses.

"The fire dance is a traditional performing art from Samoa and for me I feel proud when the boys receive these opportunities to showcase this traditional art on word stages," Leota said.

The Siva Afi competition will have its finals on Friday 25 November and Saturday 26 November at the Samoa Tourism Authority Cultural Village.