CALIFA : Community Organizer

Elaine Talamaivao

CALIFA : Special Guest Artist

Jade Whaanga

CALIFA: Honoree

Sage Romero

CALIFA : Community Organizer

Elaine Talamaivao

Introducing Dancing Earth's Elaine Talamaivao, @talamaimoana, community leader, Pacific Island dancer, choreographer, film maker/producer, community organizer for our CALIFA Honorees. Elaine Talamaivao is a Polynesian dancer, teacher and lover of all cultures and dance forms. Her introduction to Polynesian dance started at her father’s practices in Mulivai Samoa, while he prepared with the Samoan Dance Theatre for their South Pacific and European tours. She would leave Samoa and migrate to Aotearoa, New Zealand, to live with her grandparents, where the Fa’a Samoa traditions were practiced thoroughly in their home.

Eventually, her love for culture took her to lead the Polynesian and Kapa Haka Clubs for Tawa and St Mary’s College, where both High Schools became game changers and power houses among the local High School Poly Festivals in the capital city, Wellington. Her popularity grew in the way she taught both the youth and adults.

Through workshops at Whitireia Polytechnic, she was able to collaborate and learn from Porirua’s leading choreographers and artists. This experience opened a curiosity into the interweaving of contemporary Māori and Pasefika dance styles and traditions. Her love for dance and storytelling eventually led her to the United States to further her education. Though she had moved to three different nations, several things remained constant - her love for culture and dance, but even more so, her love to teach others about the dances and languages from the South Pacific. In her education, Elaine received degrees from both Riverside Community College and the University of California, Riverside.

She continued to collaborate with other filmmakers and choreographers of indigenous dance – growing many relationships in the national and international storytelling world. Elaine has an extensive professional background in the arts. While employed for the City of Riverside, Elaine created the Riverside Arts Academy’s curriculum and schedule. RAA is a grant-funded program that serves the underrepresented in Riverside’s East Side. Under Elaine’s guidance, the program went on to be recognized by the State of California – California Parks and Recreation Services for Cultural Diversity as well as the founding team that assisted with the Academy’s affiliation with The Harmony Project.

Elaine has also performed as a guest at various indigenous forums, including at UCLA, UC Riverside, and the Culver Center. She currently continues to work with the academic community at the University of Redlands. Elaine’s passion in teaching Polynesian culture has stayed constant, as she has watched the growth and success of Tala Mai Moana, @talmaimoana To date, TMM has performed both around the United States and internationally. TMM has now expanded within the City of Riverside to provide Summer Day Camps, workshops and virtual classes that are dedicated to teaching the Polynesian culture to Riverside’s under-served youth, as well as continuing community growth among several homeschooling academies and non-profit leadership organizations. Elaine continues to strive in providing easily accessible Polynesian cultural classes to all.

About Talamaimoana

Welcome to Tala Mai Moana, a community based Polynesian arts and storytelling group, based in Riverside, California. Tala Mai Moana

Our Vision Tala Mai Moana, @talmaimoana which means “Stories from the Ocean,” aims to promote and teach culture, dance, language, and creative arts from the South Pacific, through in person and online classes. Incorporating various Island cultures - including Hawai’ian, Māori, Tahitian, and Samoan - Tala Mai Moana strives to educate students about the core values of family, storytelling, belonging and community while paying homage to the past ancestry, present activators and future generations to come.

Instilling respect, love and support through the sharing of these sacred cultures in this modern times and space. Tala Mai Moana offers private and group lessons, and partners with several city and private organizations, including the City of Riverside; Girls Scouts of the USA; Cabrillo Point Academy; Pacific Coast Academy; Mission Vision Vista Academy; and Excel Academy. Whether you or your child are a beginner, a recreational learner, or an advanced performer, Tala Mai Moana offers classes that will enable your growth, specifically tailored to your learning needs.

CALIFA : Honoree

Sage Romero

Introducing Califa Honoree: Sage Andrew Romero, @digitalndn , he is a member of the Tovowahamatu Numu (Big Pine Paiute) and Tuah-Tahi (Taos Pueblo) Tribes. As an accomplished Hoop Dancer, he has traveled internation- ally sharing the Culture of his people through song, story, dance and art.

“He has traveled extensively raising awareness of Indigenous people and Hoop Dancing on an international scale. Along with sharing issues and cultural respect among other people, he has also toured and danced with artists such as Robert Mirabal, A Tribe Called Red, Conway Kootenay, The Doors, and numerous others. When he is able, Sage volunteers with Indigenous organizations and youth projects.”

“Sage founded the AkaMya Culture Group which first began as a group that provided a safe place and space to learn and practice culture for youth and families while also striving to be a positive role model for the Native youth and live a life of Sobriety away from Drugs and Alcohol.“

“Sage recently completed building the first of its kind Cultural Studio named in honor of his recently passed Mother, the “Margaret L. Romero Cultural Studio.” This Studio will be a resource for media and creative endeavors within the community. Utilizing our own resources we have provided the community with events, productions, fundraising Cultural activities and more. Through our traditional and contemporary living culture, Arts, Film, and Animation projects, he hopes to instill pride within the youth and community so they may continue carrying on the traditions for future generations.”

About AkaMya Culture Group

AkaMya Culture Group, @digitalndn, working to raise awareness of indigenous issues, and working with youth for wellness within our communities.

The AkaMya Culture Group founded in 1998 to give youth a healthy, safe and positive place to go and learn more about their culture. AkaMya continues the focus of maintaining native culture through song and dance while also utilizing multimedia such as video, art, photography, and music to spread awareness. AkaMya is also a group that is focused on sobriety and working with those that want to connect with their culture. Their performances range from dance presentations, dramatic, funny, educational, and more. Their main goal is to educate in a positive way, while giving youth a positive outlet in their community.