AGHS Polyfest 2020 wasn’t just a performance this year, it was a year of many firsts for our Pasifika side of Avonside!

This year was our first year to have a group of 50+ performers, our first year of only 2 Polyfest leaders, our first year incorporating a Polyfest camp at school, our first year having an Avonside student open up Polyfest Canterbury and lastly the debut of our brand new, student leader designed uniforms which are now known as Avonside’s Pasifika uniform for future Polyfest groups. 

Avonside’s 2020 Polyfest journey began during Christmas holidays as soon as the leadership roles were given to us. From phone calls to the Pacific for support in our planning, to back and forth emails with our liaison & tutors on where practices would be held, you could say that we found this new journey a little challenging. But as soon as Polyfest sign ups came about, all our stress and negative thoughts were replaced by our excitement and visions for what was coming for us. 

In less than a month, our entire set was completed. Our finalised and polished 2020 Polyfest performance consisted of Samoan & Tongan dances, our brand-new uniforms, red and white feathers, high buns, red lipstick and most importantly our strong and lively sisterhood that stood 50+ strong. Proud is an understatement when it comes to how we feel about our performance this year! To us, 24 days of practices with the girls was well worth the 16 minutes and 45 seconds we spent together for last time on that 16-metre stage. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated tutors and staff whose support, skills and care we could not have done without. -Luseta Filiai (Y13)