PICAA is led by 4 x Creative Associates who plan, create and produce all PICAA projects. Each Creative Associate has their own individual expertise and skill in Pasefika creative arts and are esteemed creative leaders in the Pasefika communities of Victoria.

PICAA Creative Associates:

DR. RITA SEUMANUTAFA-PALALA. Managing Director, Music Director & Creative Associate

ASALEMO TOFETE. Theatre Director & Creative Associate

STEVE TAFEA. Music/Dance Director & Creative Associate

Asalemo is a director, playwright and award-winning actor with an impressive portfolio of New Zealand and Australian-based productions. These include a variety of Shakespearean works within the Pop-Up Globe (2017- 2019), in particular ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and ‘Hamlet’ in 2019, ‘The
Merchant of Venice’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 2018. Asalemo also featured in the MYOB ‘Try Hero’ commercial advertisement. A graduate of Toi Whaakari: New Zealand Drama School (Bachelor of Performing Arts) and Victoria University in Wellington (Bachelor of Arts/Theatre), Asalemo is Creative Director of all  PICAA Theatre projects. He wrote and directed Australia’s very first Pasefika Musical ‘ReHavaiki’ (A.Tofete/R.Seumanutafa-Palala, 2017) and has facilitated performing arts workshops and programs that focus on developing
the creative talents of Pasefika youth in community. These programs include ‘Acting for Youth’ (2017-2021), ‘Performing Arts for Pasefika Youth’ programme (2021) and more recently, ‘Island Chronicles’ (2022-2023). In 2024, Asalemo was the creative director of the inaugural MUA: Pasefika Theatre Festival, an event developed from PICAA’s creative-in-residence project at Creative Brimbank (Brimbank City Council).

Steve has a deep love for community and the arts and is a master at fusing the two, culminating in a variety of creative works. He is also an experienced and passionate performer on stage in Pacific theatre, band music, MC hosting and choreography. His theatre experience began in Christchurch, as a member of the Pacific Underground casts in the productions ‘Prospects’ (O.Kightley, 1998) and ‘Rangi and Mau’s Fantastic Voyage’ (S.Lelisi, J.Vaele, 2000-2001) and ‘Island Summer’ (P. Mavaega, 2005). He also directed Melbourne’s first Samoan theatre production ‘Amataga o le Alofa’ (D.Tuitea) in 2016. A seasoned stage musician, Steve has frontlined and composed music for various bands, including Pacific Reggae bands ‘Jahmen’ (Christchurch) and ‘New Generation’ (Melbourne) and he currently co-directs ‘Pasefika Vitoria Choir’ (2016-present). In 2003-2004 his expertise in Samoan traditional dance choreography was showcased in ‘Return to Paradise’ (D.Fenika), a production that focused on Pasefika dance and fashion, leading to numerous dance performances in New Zealand that year. As a youth worker and program facilitator, Steve is no stranger to community events and was the face of the Pacific Island community’s COVID-19 lockdown communications (2020-2022), as well as Pasifika Festival events hosted by Know Your Roots Inc. (Shepparton, 2021) and Women’s Federation of World Peace (Melbourne, 2020).

In 2024, Steve is the creative director of PICAA’s outreach program ‘Spirit of Pasefika’. A program that is attended by over 100 Pacific Island community members each year, with weekly rehearsals from January to March each year, with the final performance at the annual City of Melbourne ‘Moomba Parade’.

Gina’s role in developing sustainable and alternative solutions in creating Pasefika traditional and contempory attire for cultural practice in Australia is a key feature in her arts practice.  A graduate of Design Academy (Auckland, NZ) with a focus on Fashion Design and Construction, Gina is sought after by community members and organisations for her specialized knowledge and practice of measina Samoa (Samoan sacred treasures) for cultural ceremonies. Her love for Pasefika arts and craft, as well as her developed skill and expertise in measina Samoa stems from her Samoan upbringing in Christchurch, and then later on in Melbourne. As the director of PICAA Cultural Arts, Gina is heavily involved in all theatre productions as the lead costume designer and maker. A highly-respected artist, her costume design skills were showcased in the productions ‘Amataga o le Alofa’ (D.Tuitea, 2016) and ‘ReHavaiki’ (A.Tofete/R.Seumanutafa-Palala, 2017). She is our key facilitator of the popular Tuiga Class program – a series of creative workshops for community members to create tuiga (traditional headdress) pieces for cultural use. A highlight of Gina’s leadership in cultural attire includes the 2017 Exhibition ‘Taumeasina Samoa: Sharing Cultural Heritage and Knowledge’ at Hunt Club Community Arts Centre, hosted by PICAA in partnership with Brimbank City Council. More recently, Gina was commissioned by Melbourne Museum to design and create a tuiga as a special piece for the Pacific collections. Gina is also a regular designer for Miss Samoa Victoria Inc.

In 2024, Gina is the producer of the upcoming inaugural event ‘Pasefika Theatre Festival’ (May, 2024) and is also the cultural costume advisor/designer for ‘Spirit of Pasefika’.

Cover Photo: ‘Spirit of Pasefika’ performers on stage at PASIFIX 2023 (Gaba Musik, Arts Centre Melbourne) Sidney Myer Music Bowl.