We don't specialise in weird connections but we won't blame you if you think we do. When a film casting call went out to the Pacific Islands' "hood" in 2005 our Artistic Director answered the call. So did dozens, if not hundreds of others, including two young Samoan men from the von Reiche family. They were chosen along with our Artistic Director Mr Chuck Upu. They all went to Cuba where the makers filmed a story about the Samoan chapter of Robert Louis Stevenson's wife. The film required footage of Samoan dance. Fortunately Mr Upu was available. He offered his expert, professional coaching and advice. One thing led to another, and the von Reiche twins, amongst others, decided on their return to NZ to join SOIFUA.

Neither of the twins ever joined SOIFUA, seriously.  But Petra, girlfriend to one of the twins, did.

Petra always wanted to do Samoan dance. And she got her chance. By joining SOIFUA Petra got all the tuition she needed. For Samoan, and Cook Island, and other cultures. Petra's mum couldn't believe it. She even thought Petra was making up SOIFUA. But one day Petra's mother came to a SOIFUA show and saw Petra performing in front of 1,000 people. From that day on, Petra's mum had to believe that her daughter, a full time law student at the University of Auckland, was pursuing a genuine interest in her cultural roots through dance and song in SOIFUA.