Finding Our Narrative: The Resonance of Artistic Expression in Reimagining Stories

From VOU’s performance of Fiji Untold

Like the air we breathe, there is an invisible field of stories all around us and through us, whether or not we are conscious of it. These stories are often given to us by families, friends, and communities and are used to pass down our history, culture, beliefs, heritage, and points of view. During our formative years, such stories of tradition are how we learn and discover our place in the universe.

However, as we mature, we may discover that not all of these stories serve to uplift or empower us. Consequently, a pivotal inquiry emerges: how can we skillfully traverse and engage with stories of tradition that are woven into the fabric of our communities? How can we honor these stories while also finding the freedom for transformation? How do we discover and locate our voice, identity, and sense of self within these narratives?

During my time in Fiji, I found these questions beautifully, creatively, and boldly answered.

Through the media of live music and dance, VOU (meaning ‘new‘ in Fijian) embodies the creative blending of old and new stories, a bridge between the traditional and contemporary. Since its inception in 2007, VOU has provided young Fijian dancers with a space to support the celebration, continuation, and evolution of Fijian cultural expression. 

Learning of my work with NewStories, I greatly welcomed the invitation by my friend and dancer Evelyn Damuyawa to attend VOU’s performance of Fiji Untold, a vibrant and powerful re-telling of the traditional tale of Lagi, a young girl of chiefly Fijian heritage who is plunged into a daring journey of self-discovery. 

Lagi’s journey begins in her homeland, where she is taught the stories of her aunties and uncles through dance and music at late-night talanoa sessions. She learns to dance to the beat of their rhythm and to find her place in the movement of the collective. 

Yet, as she grows older, her spirit calls her to move in new ways and transcend beyond her community’s boundaries. VOU's dancers poignantly depict Lagi's struggle to reconcile the traditions of her community with the yearnings of her own heart.

Unable to quiet the blossoming of her spirit, Lagi is eventually compelled to travel far beyond the soil she is born of, delving into the underworld where she journeys to the realms half-remembered through the stories of her community. Lagi encounters and navigates the worlds of a mystical giant woman, an octopus God, and a shape-shifting iguana. Each encounter is a powerful metaphor for Lagi’s quest to find her narrative within the stories of tradition.

Lagi engages in a personal process of “re-storying,” in which she identifies and understands the stories that have defined her and creates new stories about who she aspires to be. She crafts new movements, patterns, and structures necessary to make this transformation a reality. Lagi returns to her community with her own stories, weaving both the traditional and the contemporary, honoring the past and the present, and creating space for new possibilities in the future.

My conversations with VOU's lead dancers further emphasize the vital role of art in preserving cultural heritage while allowing it to evolve and adapt to the present. 

Following the performance, one of VOU’s lead dancers explained, “Dance has allowed me to honor my heritage while also being able to workshop ways of weaving that into the present. Through dance, I keep my Fijian culture and traditions alive, while also discovering my own place in the world.”

Another dancer echoed these sentiments, sharing, “We bring to life our ancestors and how their stories from back then have led to us and how we use it today. These important methods of communicating our history and stories through dance, song, and art are a wonderful value to Fijians who can share this with future generations.”

The performance of VOU's "Fiji Untold" and the journey of Lagi remind us that stories are living entities that evolve, just as we do. The creative arts serve as powerful vehicles to illuminate the transformative power of stories and effectively bridge the gap between tradition and contemporary life. In doing so, they ensure that the rich tapestry of our cultural heritage remains dynamic, vibrant, and relevant for generations to come.