The dates of the International Siva Afi Competition have been confirmed with a Hawaii-based Polynesian group also keen on joining, says Ailao Club owners Leota Lene and Clare.

The couple told the Samoa Observer on Monday evening that the dates have been finalised for November this year and their dancers are now full-on with their training as the countdown begins.

Leota said their dancers have expanded their ailao training to some young men from Savai’i who recently joined them. 

"We recently had some boys from Savai’i so they are here now to practice and be part of the Ailao group,” he said in an interview.

“Who knows, maybe the next champion is from Savai’i and is right here with us.

"We finalised a date for the international competition and it will be on November 24th, 25th and 26th.”

The international competition will also attract international participation, according to Leota, who said the Polynesian Culture Center in Hawaii have advised they will participate. 

"The Polynesian Culture Center from Hawaii will be joining the international competition for the first time here, it will be led by Delsa Moe," he said.

In the coming weeks the Ailao Club will start its usual show and dinner at the Siva Afi complex to prepare themselves for the borders reopening.

"So we will be having our usual entertainment again with dinner provided from next Tuesday," he said. 

"It is time for us to get back to the roll of things, we have more children joining the group to dance and do the fire knife dancing, even the girls are adding to the number.” 

Reflecting on the prowess of fire knife dancers that the club has had over the years, Leota said many of them came from the streets, and just wanted to know how to do the fire knife dance. 

"I still think of the days young kids would just happen to come by as vendors or as curious children who did not have better things to do, to learn the fire knife dancing," he said. 

"Many of them have moved overseas after finding wives where we send them to go dance.

“They live well and eat well. It is wonderful that they can also look after their poor families for whom they worked hard to support while selling things on the streets when they were younger.”

Leota then sang a symbolic song, which told the story of children with talents who were not academically smart, but thrived as there was money in the arts. 

"You know there is a song, hey teacher leave those kids alone. That is so symbolic of the siva afi children. 

“They were not all good at school, but bit by bit they learned a dance of their heritage and went everywhere to promote our culture. 

“That too gave them their bread and butter and it has helped them thrive as Samoans where-ever they reside, still promoting our values of respect and generosity.”