Tupe Lualua
Savaia Tai Lefaga, Luatuānu’u, Sāmoa, Porirua, Aotearoa
Tupe is an artist that combines her passion for community, social justice and Siva Sāmoa to consistently create influential works of art. She has served as a passionate teacher of movement and culture in various spaces, holding three key teaching roles across Wellington. They include her most recent role as the Senior Tutor of Movement and Creative Practice at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand School of Drama from 2020-2022; Lecturer of Performing Arts at Whitireia New Zealand 2009-2019; and also as interim Lecturer at Victoria University for Pacific Studies - PASI 101: The Pacific Heritage in 2017. In addition, she teaches in various spaces throughout the Wellington region and engages with communities from all walks of life.
As the Artistic Director of Le Moana Arts and the annual Measina Festival (established 2014), Tupe identified a significant gap in the arts sector for services and resources dedicated to emerging Pacific artists. As a result, Le Moana was created and today serves as an integral springboard for cutting edge theatre. Tupe was awarded the Contemporary Artist Award for the Creative NZ Arts Pasifika Awards 2021 and the FAME Mid-Career Award 2022
