Patrick Tafua might be well-known on campus for being a former safety on the Ohio University football team, but after tonight he may prove to be the best, if not the only, Polynesian dancer in town.
Tafua will be performing at Abrio's Ladies' Night at 7 tonight in an event called Voyage of the Pacific. All proceeds from the $10 admission fee will go to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital where he interns.
Dancing runs in Tafua's blood, as his family has always practiced a lifestyle deeply rooted in its Samoan heritage. Born into a family of 10 in Westminster, Calif., Tafua grew up watching his family perform Polynesian dance and joined the dance troupe Hitia O Te Ra -Tahitian for rising of the sun - at the age of 11.
He spent years performing with the group along the West Coast until he came to OU on a football scholarship.
It taught me a lot of things in terms of teamwork
learning about different cultures appreciating the fact that different people come from different perspectives Tafua said. Learning these dances and cultures has enabled me to want to learn about other people.
Tafua's mother and brother will be flying in from California to play music that will accompany his performance. He said he views the event as an opportunity to teach people about his culture by demonstrating traditional Polynesian dances.
(In our culture)
storytelling is buried in dance and song. There's a story being told with every motion
Tafua said.
Tafua, who is studying health care administration at OU, said his incentive for attending college is to eventually be able to support his parents. He ultimately hopes to become a CEO of a hospital or clinic, but said he will not be moving back to California in the near future.
The decision to stay in the Midwest was largely based on the authenticity of people, he said.
Money from Voyage of the Pacific will go toward equipment upgrades, bedside registration capabilities and redesigning patient space in the Emergency Department of O'Bleness.
The goal of the entire fundraising project is to raise $500,000, according to the hospital's Community Relations Department.
By raising money
we hope to bring the Emergency Department to a level that will meet or exceed the community's expectations
said Ruami Dyck, communications manager at O'Bleness.
Tafua said he is excited to expose Athens to a culture that it is unfamiliar with and to teach people the Samoan way, also known as Fa'a Samoa.
It's more than just me dancing - it's me educating
Tafua said. And I would love for people to leave the event solely with the spirit of the islands -
of aloha.
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