Sopapelu Tipo Fatiaki was born in 1982, the son of Rev. Irava Fatiaki and Maria Fatiaki and the youngest of three sisters and two brothers. He was born in the village of Lopta in Rotuma.

He has always been passionate about dancing and joined the Oceania Dance Theatre in 2001, where he developed his talent under the tutelage of Allan Alo, the renowned Samoan choreograher.

Sopapelu has toured internationally and throughout the Pacific region for dance conferences, workshops and collaboration with other dance groups. He has worked with international choreograhers such as Richard Digoue from the Niyan Dance Company in New Caledonia; Cathy Livermore, Head Tutor with the Contemporary Dance programme at Whitireia Performing Arts (Welligton); Nirmala Madhava, chief choreographer at the Prabhath Academy for Music & Performing Arts (India); Selina Vada and Lucy (Australia); and Indra Utama, dance director of the Academy of Music and Dance in Padang Panjang, Western Sumatra (Indonesia).

Sopapelu (in back) dancing with four women

Sopapelu has also taught at Veiuto Primary School preparing the students for the annual Tadra-Kahani stage competition (junior category), which they have won four years in a row. In 2007 he will be replacing Alan Alo at Monfort Boys Town, winners in the senior category, where he will introduce dance performances of "The Prodigal Son"or "Le' Fesau Ta," his latest masterpiece.

The production fuses traditional with contemporary dance styles, with an operatic musical setting featuring my Sopapelu's own singing.

In his own words, "Dancing makes me feel more alive and my spirit is always uplifted whenever I dance."