The University of the South Pacific’s

Oceania Center for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, UNAIDS, SPC and Fiji Ministry of Health

Present,

A Press Release of

`A LOVE FOR LIFE - SILENCE & HIV’

A Dance, Choral and Drama Production by the Oceania Dance Theatre in
collaboration with the Montfort Boys-Town School

Directed and Produced by Allan Alo & Frances. C. Koya

Featuring the musical talents of

Laisa Vulakoro

Taomi Tapu-Qiliho

Micheal Levaci

And presenting the Kaila! winners of 2008 and 2008

Olivia Solei

Ana Silivale

Dates: Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2009

Time: School Matinees - 11pm, Public performances - 7p.m.

Venue: Civic Centre Auditorium, Suva

Cost: School Matinees $5 (teachers) and $2 (students)

Public Performances - $10 (flat fee)

Tickets available from the following:

USP Oceania Centre USP Book Centre, USP Oceania Centre, Kahawa Cafe, Esquires
Café and Fiji TV Suva Office.

Phone Contact: 3232832 / 3232733

Limited seats available - Great for the whole Family to see!!!

The Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies at the University of the
South Pacific and partners present `A Love for Life - Silence and HIV’ - a major
Pacific production using the Performing Arts as an awareness tool.

Initially performed at the Pacific Youth Festival held in Suva, in July, the
production will be held for three days, September 16,17&18 2009, at the Suva
Civic Centre.

“A Love for Life” is an educational performance about silence and HIV. It is a
story of love and crisis faced by Mere, a young Fijian woman and her daughters,
Moana and Loloma. Integrating dance, song and drama, the performance captures
their experiences and addresses the general lack of awareness and acceptance of
those living with HIV or at risk of being infected by HIV in Fiji and the region.

The production engages the audience to reflect on cultural values and religious
beliefs and to challenge social stigma, ending with a message of hope and a
challenge to improve our lives and of those we love. It also sensitizes teachers
about innovative ways by which students may be engaged in meaningful learning
experiences that are contextualized in the reality of the contemporary Pacific.

In this September staging of “A Love for Life” there will be matinee
performances for schools in the afternoon and public performances in the evening.

About the Oceania Dance Theatre

The Oceania Dance Theatre is a non formal teaching and performance theatre group
of contemporary oceanic dance styles. It provides dancers with access to
training in traditional and contemporary dance styles, a forum for the
expression of Pacific Island Cultures through dance and drama and extends itself
out into the local, regional and international communities taking dance, poetry
and music to the children of Fiji and beyond throughout ten year’s since its
inception.

The production of “Silence and HIV” is designed to enable Pacific youth to
understand various elements of the Arts and develop their skills, knowledge, and
attitudes towards the Arts as a viable career path. And to learn how to
effectively use the Arts to communicate messages on HIV prevention, care,
treatment, support and related social issues.

The collaboration of USP- OCAC-PS/ UNAIDS APLF/ SPC is an on-going partnership
that was initially launched in 2008. Other collaborating partners are the
Ministry of Health (FIJI), Pacific Islands Aids Foundation (PIAF), Fiji Network
of people living with HIV/AIDS (FJN+), Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC),
French Embassy of Suva.