VOU secures $50,000 grant for dance education
67 graduates have earned a Diploma of Dance since the programme began in 2019.
Wednesday 14 October 2026 | 15:00
Updated 17 October 2026 | 10:52 FJT
VOU Dance Group director Sachiko Soro (fourth from left) with executives.
Photo: Supplied
Fiji will soon have more professionally trained dancers, thanks to VOU Dance Group and the Government.
VOU Dance Group director Sachiko Soro said the Conservatorium of Dance’s first $50,000 Government grant would support its work in providing accredited tertiary education in the performing arts.
The grant was awarded through the Fiji Higher Education Commission, recognising the institution’s role in developing skills and career opportunities for young Fijians.
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Ms Soro said the need for an accredited tertiary dance training programme had been identified many years ago, when dance was not widely recognised as a viable career path in Fiji.
“We first saw the need for an official accredited tertiary training programme in dance many years ago,” Ms Soro said.
She said VOU began developing the Conservatorium of Dance curriculum and accreditation process in 2015, receiving registration and accreditation from the commission in 2018. The institution welcomed its first official intake of students in 2019.
Since then, five cohorts of 20 students have entered the programme, with 67 graduates earning a Diploma of Dance.
Ms Soro said 92 per cent of graduates were employed full-time, while 66 per cent worked directly in the cultural and creative industries. Others had found employment in related sectors, including tourism and marketing.
The programme takes in 20 young people from around Fiji each year, with their course costs sponsored by VOU Dance Company as part of its contribution to creative development.
Ms Soro said the grant was an important recognition of the institution’s work and would help it continue delivering quality creative education.
“It’s important for creative and hard-working Fijian youth to have opportunities in this space and to diversify our skill sets in Fiji,” she said.
She said graduates were representing Fiji internationally and thanked the Ministry of Education for supporting the institution’s work.
“We will not let you down, Fiji; we promise to put every single dollar and effort towards delivering the highest quality creative education,” she said.
