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http://www.samoanews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=12013&edition=1263290400

Lavata’i brothers take the Fire-Knife dance to the US heartland
Tuesday January 12, 2010
By Teri Hunkin reporters@samoanews.com



Malakai Don Lavata’i and Jeurell Lavata’i are home now, but soon they will be back in Branson, Missouri (referred to as the “Live Music Show Capitol of the World”) where they will wow the local crowds with their own very special talents.

Malakai (to avoid confusion with Dad, also named Malakai, his mom calls him “Don”) and younger brother Jeurell are both champion fire-knife dancers.

They are sons of local entertainer Mal Lavata’i and his wife Trish, and they are scheduled to leave for Branson on February 1.

Billed on its website as a “one-of-a-kind family destination” Branson, Missouri is “less than a day’s drive for one third of Americans” and boasts more than 50 live performance theaters, twelve golf courses, dozens of museums, lakes, fishing and boating, an award winning theme park and “shopping galore” with dozens of hotels, resorts, spas and dining experiences.

Branson also has one of the most popular Polynesian shows in America, and older brother Don has been working there for almost a year.

The “Island Fire” show, located at the Dutton Family Theater in Branson is the showplace for the music and dance of Polynesia right in the middle of America. Jonathon Dutton, one of a large musical family, married a Samoan girl, Bella Keil of Apia. It was Bella who first contacted Trish Lavata’i about her sons.

Through their work with the local “Flaming Sword” productions, the Lavata’i boys had already made a name for themselves.

Raised in Malaeimi, Don began dancing in earnest about seven years ago for local dance group Siva Maia. When “Flaming Sword” began, he joined the group and continued to learn the art of the knife dance. Brother Jeurell, taller and quieter soon followed. “Both boys excelled from the beginning,” said their mother, who also admits with a smile she “may be just a little biased.”

Flaming Sword began by the Letuli Family to honor Olo “Freddie” Letuli, the legendary Polynesian entertainer, and the father of “fire-knife” dancing.

According to Trish, Olo had seen her sons practicing with their knives in their front yard, and invited them over. Olo took them under his wing, and according to Don, that was where he learned that “speed wasn’t nearly as important as accuracy.”

“Olo was a tough teacher” said mother Trish about those days.

Don continued, “I studied under ‘Aunty Malie’ later, (Olo’s daughter, and an expert knife dancer in her own right) as Olo’s age and physical condition slowed. He said of Aunty Malie, “she was a good teacher, we had a lot of fun and we learned a lot.”

Signed by the Duttons to perform in Missouri— starting in March of last year— Don has been knife- dancing there for almost a year, and “it’s been great— to be out on my own, supporting myself, taking on the world. Being independent has been really good.”

He is also learning video ‘tech work’ like stage lighting, as well as helping with the hotel and the box office— he calls it “all-around training” in the hospitality and entertainment business.

“I work five or six nights a week— the cast is not too big— two musicians, four female dancers and four male dancers. We do the dances of many islands— Tokelau, Tahiti, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, and of course, Samoa. We begin the show with a Samoan number and close with the Fire-Knife dance.”

Proud of her sons and their talents, mother Trish says Branson is “getting a good package deal with the two brothers.”

Samoa News had some questions for the boys while they were home. Asking Don, “How do you fly with your knives?” he said, “We wrap them carefully— in Samoa and Hawaii, the airline people understand what they are— they are part of the culture.” In the States, it could be a different story, but Don says that so far, they have not had anyone question their cargo.

“How would you encourage kids here to get involved with Fire- Knife dancing?”

Both of the young men agreed, “It takes a lot of commitment; you have to stick with it to become really good.”

They also said that it’s a great way to get out and become independent. Recruiters from Hong Kong Disney and other theme parks go around the country looking for knife dancers and Polynesian dancers and musicians. There are many Polynesian shows throughout the states, in fact, many around the world, noted Don, who went to Japan right out of high school. He said that a Cook Islander from Texas recruited him after hearing about his knife dancing skills.

Does the Branson gig pay well? “Yes, it does” said mother Trish.

Trish Lavata’i had the last word on her sons’ unusual career choice.

“There are ways to grow and prosper without joining the army or playing football,” she said. Trish noted that she was “glad to see them using their talents, and promoting their culture to make their way in the world.”