Sina ma le Tuna is a powerhouse collaboration & new work choreographed by ĀTOA Siva Academy, with writing and artistic direction by Satiu Studios, and presented under the umbrella of Elevate Culture.
This special showcase event will feature a curated lineup of performance acts, guided by an emcee, before culminating in the presentation of Sina ma le Tuna.
Production synopsis: A contemporary reimagining of the Sāmoan legend of Sina and the Eel, the work is grounded in the lived realities of Sāmoan communities in western Sydney today and guided by the proverb: O le tuafafine o le i’omata o lona tuagane - the sister is the pupil of her brother’s eye. The story centres Sina as the emotional and cultural heart of her family and community.
Set in western Sydney, the story follows a young Sāmoan woman whose future is fiercely protected by her family, asking how love, faith, and community can support her growth without holding her back.
Sina is a high-achieving young woman: a church leader, dancer, and scholarship student on the path to university. Beside her is Tuna, a gifted footy player with dreams he has yet to fully understand & realise. As Sina moves forward with clarity and purpose, and Tuna struggles to define his own direction, their relationship begins to shift under the weight of expectation, responsibility, and change.
Blending traditional Sāmoan pese (song), siva (dance), and ensemble movement, Sina ma le Tuna explores what it truly means to protect a sister: not through restriction, but through care, respect, and collective responsibility. This is a story that resists tragedy, choosing instead to imagine a future where community remains strong while still making space for its young women to rise.
Lead Creative Team is led by the artists and cultural leaders from each collaborating organisation:
ĀTOA Siva Academy: Matthew Faauila, Rachel Faauila & Sabrina Laussen
Elevated Culture: Agene Filoa, Claudia Savaiinaea & Raymond Savaiinaea
Satiu Studios: Tanuvasamanaia Christine Afoa, Elijah Lemusuifeauali’i, Lumafale Tumanu & Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu
Image taken by Phoenix Vaiotu of characters Sina and Tuna (played by Orianna Tauapai and Jacob Pula, students from ĀTOA Siva Academy).