MEDIA RELEASE
4 November 2005
For Immediate Release
Sudanese Youth Born to Dance!
Youth from the Sudanese Community of Wellington are practicing hard at fine tuning their performance piece for the Upper
Hutt International Festival. Some are learning traditional dance for the first time, while others have been dancing for
years. The dancing involves clapping, stamping and beautiful rhythmic body movements. Apollonia Pius, one of the women
teaching the girls says that Sudanese people are “born to dance. This type of dance is instinct, inborn but can also be
learned”. Apollonia and George Nono are teaching the youth the dance which will be performed at the Upper Hutt
International Festival on Saturday 12 November at Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt.
The Sudanese women who are renowned for their beautiful and intricately braided hair will also be holding a hair
braiding stall at the International Festival. “This is bound to be a popular stall with a lot of women and girls wanting
to have their hair braided”, Virginia Barker, Upper Hutt City Council says.
Also on offer at the festival will be a myriad of ethnic food and craft stalls as well as a full programme of cultural
performances including dancing, singing, instrumental music and martial art displays. Over 20 different ethnicities and
nationalities will be represented at the festival. Virginia Barker says, the festival “celebrates ethnic and cultural
diversity and relies on the support of sponsors such as the NZ International Campus however the ultimate success of this
special day of celebration depends on the many community groups that take part and the public who come to watch. It is a
true reflection of how much our community values diversity”.
The Upper Hutt International Festival is on Saturday 12 November, 1pm – 6pm at Expressions Arts and Entertainment
Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt.
Upper Hutt International Festival
Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre
Saturday, 12 November
1 pm – 6 pm
ENDS