(Picture caption: Fuaao Tutulu Faith Schuster is performing with Black Grace, currently in rehearsal for the dance-opera [m]Orpheus, showing in September. Photo credit: Andi Crown.)
Black Grace dancer Fuaao Tutulu Faith Schuster (Faith) believes there is power in dance.
“It can connect a person to something bigger than themselves,” the 24-year-old says.
“Personally, I’ve learnt to use (and hope to continue using) dance as a way of service to a bigger and wider community, like many others have before me.”
Inspired by her grandmother, Faith learnt the traditional siva as a youngster in Samoa, where she was born and raised before moving to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2008.
“When I moved to New Zealand, my family were heavily involved in the arts and so my journey with dance continued.”
That journey included competing in numerous hip hop competitions, completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts and Screen Arts in 2019 and teaching at various dance academies.
In 2021, Faith began working with the Black Grace dance company, which fuses Pacific and contemporary dance, and was founded by Neil Ieremia (ONZM) in 1995.
And in September, she will join the Black Grace troupe and the New Zealand Opera to perform in the coproduction of (m)Orpheus, showing in Auckland and Wellington.
The dance-opera is a reimagining of Christoph Gluck’s 18th-century masterpiece Orpheus and Eurydice, seen through a Pacific lens.
Faith says being part of the production has opened her mind to different ways of storytelling.
“The production, I believe, is the first opera with a Pasifika and Māori cast… that, in itself, is really special.
“Being a part of something that celebrates not only the art of live performance, but also culture in a completely different world has been really inspiring.”
Faith also has a new appreciation of not only opera, but the expectations of Neil and her fellow Black Grace dancers.
“Black Grace, with the leadership of Neil Ieremia, has worked to tell stories with excellence in mind since the beginning.
“Throughout the process of this production we’re reminded that it is not always about perfection but giving your 100 percent best.
“And when we do that collectively there’s no limit to how far we can go in telling our stories.”
Faith will perform with Black Grace and NZ Opera in (m)Orpheus, playing at Auckland’s ASB Waterfront Theatre from September 6-10 and at Wellington’s Opera House from September 20-23.
Visit the NZ Opera website to purchase tickets.