Emotional launch for Rakei Toa DVD

The crowd was smaller than hoped for but the tears were plentiful Thursday evening as Mike Tavioni and his students from the Rakei Toa programme previewed a DVD which featured the boys narrating inspirational poetry.
Ten of the programme’s 12 students – aged between 10 and 13 – joined Taviona on stage at the National Auditorium to welcome those people who did show up for the preview. It was obviously an emotional night for Tavioni, who halted his introduction on a number of occasions to blink away the tears.
The DVD, titled “Voices Along the Wayside”, features the students reciting – by memory no less – poems written by Tavioni and other artists, set to music composed by Rudy Aquino.
As Tavioni explains on the DVD, he used poetry as a means to help the boys better learn both Cook Islands Maori and English.
“Their command of the languages rose to a very high standard,” he said. “Their comprehension rose to a very high level as well.”
Then came an unusual but memorable moment for the audience when a tearful Tavioni explained that the period of darkness at the start of the DVD was in dedication to a close friend in New Zealand who was suffering from a serious illness.
Tavioni declined to be interviewed after the screening, preferring to let audience members voice their opinions. Those views were overwhelmingly positive.
“It was an emotional, inspirational DVD,” said Georgina Keenan-Williams. “The boys of Rakei Toa were just fantastic. As a Cook Islander, some of the poems (Tavioni) wrote really hit home. At one point, the tears just flowed. It really is a DVD that’s worthwhile getting. I’d recommend it to everyone.”
After the screening, the boys posed for photos with fans and family members before helping serve a meal that included a pig roasted in an umu.
The DVD is available for $25 from Tavioni on his Atupa property or from his hut tomorrow (Saturday) at the Punanga Nui Market Place.

By John Ireland

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