Tia dances through the grief
Hip-hop dancer and MIT graduate uses her experience to give back to the community. This article originally appeared in the Manukau Courier and online at stuff.co.nz.
The journey to a Bachelor’s degree hasn’t been easy for Tia Sagapolutele. The hip hop dancer and sister of rapper Mareko, dealt with the sudden death of her mother just one year into her studies at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT). Now she wants to use her experience to teach dance in the South Auckland community.
“I’ve always loved performing arts, and my mum encouraged me. She took me to drama classes, piano, singing, all that jazz,” she says.
The 22-year-old earned second place at the Hip Hop World Championships in Las Vegas in 2012 with Sorority in the Royal Family dance crew, led by choreographer Parris Goebel.
But just two weeks after returning with her silver medal, Tia’s mum suddenly passed away.
“I was in total shock. I went from my highest achievement, to the lowest point in my life. It was always just her and I, because I had lost my father when I was only four. It had a huge impact on me and hit me hard; I didn’t know what I was going to do without her,” she says.
The death of Ruta Sagapolutele was felt by the South Auckland community. “Mum was known for her big heart and her kindness,” says Tia. “When we brought her home there was a line of people all the way down to the park waiting to pay their respects. She left a mark.”
Still struggling with the grief, Tia returned to MIT to continue her Bachelor of Creative Arts. “I honestly thought I wouldn’t be graduating. But Mum wouldn’t have wanted me to just quit.”
“Being at MIT, being able to create pieces was definitely a way of grieving,” she says. “I find dance easier to express what I’m feeling, I find it easier to be free.”
“It’s made me the person I am today. I’m definitely stronger, more ambitious; I know what direction I am heading in my future.”
Art runs strong in Tia’s genes, with brothers Mareko and Raymond Sagapolutele, (known as Rimoni the ‘brotographer’), and cousin Neil Ieremia, the founder of Black Grace.
She is now doing post-graduate study, followed by a Master’s programme next year. “I’m aiming to get my PhD. Nothing’s too big.”
The former James Cook High student plans to use what she learns to give back to the local community. “I’m researching how hip hop dancers can create sustainable careers. Which I hope to bring back. I really want to help the people from here that don’t get the same opportunities as others do.”
“Because I don’t think I’m the only one who’s been through this, we’ve all been through something that’s big. I want to help direct people on the right pathway.”
“I’m grateful that coming from that dark place, I was able to continue with my studies,” she says. “I’m definitely going to cry – I can’t believe I’m going to graduate! When you know you’ve worked hard, it’s just all worth it.”
Tia graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree on Saturday 28 May 2016, along with 1,072 other people as part of MIT’s 2016 Graduation.
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