The Samoa Performing Arts and Creative Excellence (S.P.A.C.E) will be hosting the “Allan Alo Arts Festival” in June to honor the legacy of the late Seuili Allan Alo.

Co-Director of S.P.A.C.E, Glenville Christopher Lord told the Samoa Observer in an interview on Saturday morning that Seiuli was renown for the type of work that he created and completed in performing arts and specifically for contemporary performing arts. 

“It is to honor his name, his legacy, his work - not only in the Pacific but internationally,” Mr. Lord said.

According to the co-Director, the drive behind wanting to celebrate Seiuli's legacy and what he stood for in the Pacific is that artists’ work is hardly celebrated. 

“If you look at the western cultures and international, they celebrate their choreographers, the history and the knowledge they have behind their choreographers,” he said. 

“So this festival is not only to honor his legacy and his work but to celebrate Pacific island choreographers who have done so much for the Pacific through the performing arts.”

Mr. Lord explained that what Seiuli has done for the Pacific is immense and the festival is a way for them to recognise Pacific island choreographers and the work they do.

“This festival is a testimony of what he loved to do as a choreographer,” he said. 

S.P.A.C.E is also working together with the Nofoalii youth group for the festival, which Seiuli had worked with before. 

He stated that the festival was supposed to be inclusive of all arts but was advised by the patrons to start small, and will include dance, theatre and music. 

The opening of the festival will be held at Lava Hotel on the 24th of June, while the second show will be at Tanoa Tusitala Hotel on the 25th which will be the first Allan Alo Vocal Cup competition and the show by S.P.A.C.E’s Artists Development Project (A.D.P).

The last show of the festival will be held at Taumeasina Island Resort on the 26th which will be the Allan Alo Dance Cup, and a show that is inspired by Broadway musicals. 

Mr. Lord highlighted that the shows will be different each night, and revealed that it will be an annual event with hopes that the festival can be held in Fiji next year due to the amount of work Seiuli had done in Fiji. 

He acknowledged the support of their sponsors such as Taula, Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B), Adaway Media, Eyespy Radio, TV3, Naydith Events Hirage, Lava Hotel, Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, and Taumeasina Island Resort.