What began as a dance crew formed for an international competition in New Zealand and America in 2019, is now a fully-fledged hip-hop dance company in Fiji, MATA.
Tevita Tobeyaweni, the 26-year-old Navosa highlander and MATA founder, saw vast possibilities for hip-hop in Fiji after performing at the World Hip Hop Championships in 2019.
“I think that was a pivotal moment for me, standing in the room with more than 1000 dancers during orientation and watching our flag being raised amongst other bigger countries. I told myself, this is incredible and we are just scratching the surface and the opportunities are endless,” he said.
The realisation that they could not rely solely on fundraising and sponsorship, solidified MATA’s move from a dance crew to a business. “After the international tour, I said we are going to make this a business, so we can support ourselves and the dream we have in order to tap into the international opportunities that exist in the hip hop genre,” Tevita reveals.
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