Arts and Entertainment

Pacific Rhythm makes Polynesian culture a family affair

Pacific Ryhthm, a six-person Polynesian dance troupe, will kick off Penn State York's Teaching International initiative for 2016-17 on Sept. 1 in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. The performance is free and open to the public.  Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

YORK, Pa. — Pacific Rhythm, a Polynesian dance troupe, will take to the stage at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center for a free performance at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1. Tickets are not needed for the performance, which is open to the public. This is the kick-off event for Teaching International (TI) 2016-17 at the campus.

Teaching International is a curriculum and campus globalization initiative. Each academic year, the campus selects a country or region and a theme as a focus for instructional and co-curricular events. The region chosen for this year is the Pacific Islands and the theme is literacy. Last year, TI focused on China, with a theme of gender.

Pacific Rhythm promotes Polynesian culture through music, dance and authentic Island entertainment. Audiences can feel the rhythm of the Pacific through the group’s Polynesian dances from the islands of Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga, Cook Islands and Samoa.

What sets this group apart from other Polynesian dance troupes is that they are a group made up of a family of six — mom, dad and four children. Mika, the chief of the family, is originally from the islands of Western Samoa. He grew up with music and dancing as an important part of his culture. He moved from Samoa at the age of 22 to attend college in Hawaii, which is where he and wife Tiffany met. Mika is the emcee for the family's performances, a dancer and a fire dancer.

Tiffany was born and raised in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She has always loved the Polynesian culture and was very blessed to marry into it. Tiffany has been dancing since 2000 and makes all the family’s costumes. The four children range in age from 6 to 14 and complete the group. 

Don’t miss this opportunity explore Polynesian culture. Learn more about the group by visiting http://www.prluau.com/. To learn more about the variety of free and ticketed shows at the Pullo Center, visit http://pullocenter.york.psu.edu/.

Last Updated August 4, 2016

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