Art Classes

• Fiji Arts Playhouse: (Selbourne St, corner of Des Voeux Rd). Contact: Pravin Sen Ph: 991 8252; pravin_sen@yahoo.com. Saturday mornings 10 am-1 pm; and Tuesday evenings 5:30 -8:30 pm.

• Informal group lessons with private instruction (Contact: Jane Borg; justjane@unwired.com.fj) Classes offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9:30 am -12:30 pm.

 

Art supplies available from Garden City Stationary Shop, Dolphins Plaza Stationary store, Suva Book Shop and Cost-U Less.

 

There are national and local exhibitions held throughout the year; ANZ sponsored exhibition in November (Fiji Arts Playhouse) exhibitions at Sofitel Resort (Nadi) and soon to be opened Oceania Centre Gallery (USP campus).

 

 

Choirs

• Fiji Arts Club Choir: (Robin Palmer, Ph: 331-3888 or 992-5670) Rehearsals are held Sunday evenings at the Fiji Arts Playhouse, 7-9 pm. Mix of Fijian and ex-pat singers.

 

 

Dance Classes

• Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture: (USP Campus; 323 2832/ 323 2733; tarte_a@usp.ac.fj. Offers Children's Creative Dance, Ladies Polynesian Dance, Modern Dance for Adults, Special Dance Techniques, and Pacific Aerobics.

• Vou Dance School : (30 Des Voeux Rd; Contact Sachiko Miller; Ph: 310 0611 / 999 9966). Offers Pacific Dance, Boyz Dance (Meke and Hip Hop for young boys), Latin, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Contemporary Dance. 12 week sessions

• Indian Cultural Center: (LICI Building, Level 6, Butt Street). Offers North Indian Classical Dance: (Kathak) and South Indian Classical Dance: (Bharatnatyam). All classes are free of charge and teachers are either from India or trained in India. Ph: 330 1125.

• Rako Pasefika Fiji Classes:  (Samuela Taukave (Skillz) Voda and inkk users (+679) 5042; follow on Facebook)

  Island Dance: Focusing on traditional and Polynesian Dance Basics, Posture, Technique and Training. Come and move to the beats of the Pacific. Enjoy the rhythms and vigor of Polynesian dance, have fun and exercise while freeing your body of stress and learn some great new dance moves at the same time. 

  Guitar Beginners: Guitar theory and practical taught in a fun environment. This class is aimed at beginner guitar players.

  Guitar Continuing: Expand your knowledge skills and techniques on the guitar. For more experienced players who have completed the basics. 

  Uke 1: Learn to play the uke! Basic chords and strumming patterns. Bring a uke and a smile. Suitable for beginners from age 4yrs and above.

  Vocal Training: Focuses on Technique, Tonic solfa, Posture, Breathing, Phrasing and developing YOUR OWN style. 

  Pacific Drumming: Basic Tahitian drumming, Fijian, Rotuman, and Samoan. Learn to use and identify the different notes and the important subtleties. 

  Tefui (Rotuman Garland) Weaving: Learning History and Significance as well as completing a full Traditional 7 star Garland. Materials Provided.

  Pacific designing: Recognize differences between designs from Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia, NZ, Fiji and Rotuma and their significance and creating you own designs. 

  Hat Weaving: Learn how to weave your own coconut hat. 

  Hip Hop: Learn the Basics for Waving, Krumping, Bboying, Popping, Locking, Choreography, Freestyle as well as finding your SWAGG!! 

   

Music

Fijians are gifted singers and guitar players. If you are musician, there are keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, drum sets, and a limited violin selection available for sale.  There are no wind instruments available but can be ordered from overseas.  Upright pianos are usually bought second-hand from an ex-pat. 

 

If you are considering bringing your own instrument to Fiji, be aware of the humidity conditions that may do damage to your instrument (especially strings and piano). Take note that there is a piano tuner that only comes to Fiji once a year or every two years!

 

 

List of Music Teachers

• Vou Music School: (30 Des Voeux Rd; Contact: Sachiko Miller Ph: 999 9966; sachikomiller@gmail.com). Offers voice, guitar, drums, keyboard, ukelele, bass music theory and kids choir. 12 week sessions.

• Contact Woo-Mi: Ph: 995 3200 (based at ISS). Vocal Training for both adults and students.

• Indian Cultural Center: (LICI Building, Level 6, Butt Street). Offers Classical Carnatic Vocal and Classical Indian Drum (Tabla) & Harmonium, free of charge. Ph: 330-1125.

 

Piano

• Gulnara Mukhametzhanova-Ah Koy: (Ph: 938 0131; gulnara_mukhamet77@yahoo.com

     Teacher is based at International School of Suva (ISS) and also offers private lessons.

 

Guitar

• John Fong: (based at South Seas Music, 8 Usher Street, Ph: 331 5155/ 995 3777) Private lessons for all levels and ages.

• Tim Ulacake: (Ph: 928 8840). Based at ISS.

 

Violin /Cello

• Siqu, Private lessons for all ages, lessons held at Fiji Arts Club Playhouse Selbourne St., Suva (Ph: 331-1254)

• Davui String Ensemble: (violin/ viola/cello) Rehearsals Mondays 5-7 pm, Fiji Arts Playhouse (Ph:  331-1254)

• Mrs. Ceci Zheng: (11 Rewa St, Flagstaff) Ph: 9926936 / 938 2442.  Professional musician from China offering violin lessons of German Hohmann. Books and violins provided.

 

 

Cinemas

• Damodar Events Cinema (Damodar City, Grantham St Ph:  327-5100)

• Village 6: (centre of town, Ph: 330-6006, www.damodarvillage.com.fj). Complex of six small, modern cinemas showing the latest blockbusters from Hollywood and Bollywood.  Cheap.  Fierce air conditioning – take an extra layer of clothing.  See the Fiji Times for details of current screenings.

• Alliance Francaise: (92 Ratu Sukuna Rd; Ph: 331 3802)   Screens French-language films occasionally. 

 

 

Cultural Centres

• Fiji Museum: (Thurston Gardens, Ratu Sukuna Rd; Ph: 331 5944).

• Alliance Francaise: (92 Ratu Sukuna Rd, Ph: 331-3802)   Language courses in French, Fijian and Hindi; exhibitions, cultural events and French-language films. Ask to be on their email list for update of all events.

• Indian Cultural Centre: (LICI Building, Level 6, Butt Street) Ph: 330-1125. Offers classical dance, music and language classes.

 

 

Libraries

• Suva Public Library: (Victoria Parade). Open weekdays (except Wednesday afternoons) and Saturday mornings.

• USP Library: (Laucala Bay campus). Allows casual visitors.  Has a good Pacific collection.

 

 

Places of Worship

There are churches everywhere in Suva, covering most Christian denominations, with by far the largest, being the Methodist Church.

 

• Anglican Cathedral: 18 MacArthur Street, Ph: 330-4693

• Catholic Cathedral: Pratt Street, beside Reserve Bank; Sunday 10am – English Mass

• Holy Eucharist Church: Grantham/Varani Roads (2 blocks from McDonald's in Laucala Bay); Sunday 9am – English Mass; Ph: 330-0348

• CenterPoint Outreach Centre: (Non-Denomination Christian). Vatuwaqa (near Pure Fiji) Sunday 10am

 

There are also many Hindu temples, and a few mosques.

 

 

Venues for Concerts and Public Events

• Civic Centre Auditorium: (Civic Centre near Ratu Sukuna Park)

• National Stadium: (Laucala Bay Road)

• Vodafone Arena: (Laucala Bay Road)

• Tattersall’s Leisure Centre: (beside National Stadium, Laucala Bay Road)

• Fiji Museum: (Ratu Cakobau Road) 331 5944)

• Fiji Arts Playhouse: (Selbourne Street, corner of Des Voeux Rd) Contact Patricia: evers@connect.com.fj to be included on mailing list for all events.

• Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture: (USP campus, near USP Book Centre) Contact Anne: tarte_a@usp.ac.fj to be included on mailing list.

 

 

Vocal and Instrumental Training

• Vou Music School: (30 Des Voeux Rd; Contact: Sachiko Miller Ph: 999 9966; sachikomiller@gmail.com). Offers voice, guitar, drums, keyboard, ukelele, bass music theory and kids choir, 12 week sessions.

• Contact Woo-Mi: Ph: 995 3200 (based at ISS). Vocal Training for both adults and students.

• Indian Cultural Center: (LICI Building, Level 6, Butt Street). Offers Classical Carnatic Vocal and Classical Indian Drum (Tabla) & Harmonium, free of charge. Ph: 330-1125.