User:AuteWayOfWeaving/Jaycee Tanuvasa

Jaycee Tanuvasa (born 20 November) born and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand. Tanuvasa is a multi-disciplinary artist, choreographer, producer, fa’afafine, femme queen and overall Mother of the kiki house of Iman.

Biography
Born and raised in South Auckland, Tanuvasa grew in to a well known artist, producer, creative and choreographer in Aotearoa and Australia, but better known as the overall Mother of the House of Iman.

Tanuvasa is one of the pioneer's that has help create a ballroom scene in Aotearoa, dedicating ten years to the development of both the community and the art form nationally and across the Pacific. Her work within ballroom in Aotearoa has made a name for herself across the Pacific, and has extended her love and passion for ballroom into other creative work.

Ballroom
Tanuvasa and her house has walked and hosted many balls, 'dirty 30's ball' in 2020 and the 'Mana tangata vogue ball' in collaboration with the 'Housee of sistrah' in 2021, but two major balls Tanuvasa co-produced are both the annual 'Legacy ball' at Auckland town hall, as part of the Auckland art festival; and the 'Iman ball' held at ASB tennis arena in 2021- two major functions that help highlight and grow Aotearoa's ballroom scene.

In 2023 Tanuvasa and the House of Iman hosted the 'Design of a decade ball' in celebration of ten years of Aotearoa ballroom as part of F'ine festival in Auckland, as well as premiering an episode of 'Motherhood' a TVNZ special by Tanuvasa herself and koha productions. The same evening Tanuvasa and six others included Pati Tyrell, Tanu Gago, Darren Taniue, Kaos, Falencie Filipo and Moe Laga; pioneer's that help grow the Aotearoa ballroom scene, and were recognised and deemed legends within our Aotearoa Kiki scene.

Tanuvasa extends her love for ballroom, highlighting on different stages, from battle zone to Aotearoa and Australian art festivals such as co-creative director for FEVER-Return of the Ula, for Auckland Live Cabaret Festival and Nelson Arts Festival; and the successful production of ŌVAH ŌVAH as part of the 2023 Sydney World Pride core programme.

In 2023, Tanuvasa moved to Sydney, Australia and expanded her creativity overseas and created an Australian chapter of Iman. Since her move she has judged 'Back to basics ball' hosted by the Kiki House of Cartier, and co-proudced the success of ŌVAH ŌVAH. Following in 2024, Tanuvasa and the House of Iman hosted 'Iman's house warming vogue night' in collaboration with Riverside theatr. Welcoming and offical opening of the new chapter of Iman in Sydney, Australia, guided by overall father of the Australian chapter Callisto Iman, and Tanuvasa herself.

Shows
Tanuvasa's work is firmly rooted in community, and she places autonomy and story sovereignty at the core of each of her projects. She celebrates the fullness of young, queer, brown life and works collaboratively to create empowering and responsive reflections of this across a range of media.

Tanuvasa featured in FAFSWAG: VOGUE! – Interactive Documentary in 2018 as part of Auckland pride, exploring identity, culture and social change through a queer, Pasifika lens. The audience experiences the LGBTQI+ vogue scene in Aotearoa, directed by Tanu Gago and produced by Piki Films.

In 2021, Tanuvasa featured in Fala muncher as part of F.I.N.E festival, directed by Amanaki Prescott and produced by Amanda Wilson. Revealing true stories to life, exploring themes of gender and sexuality as they unravel what it means to be Queer in the Pacific LGBTQIA+ communities. Fall Muncher is a derogatory term, which refers to the act of a female of Pacific descent partaking in the licking of another woman’s Fala. The stories interconnect and trigger raw emotion that explore the depth of love, feeling and passion.

2023 Tanuvasa directed, 'GI'NAL' a theatre experience celebrating energies of feminity, masculinity, spirituality and sexuality. Following that she co-produced and directed the success of ŌVAH ŌVAH, with fellow co-producer Rocky Talatonu. Pasifika queer cultural defining stories through song, pacific dance, vogue, fashion, drag, poetry & production.A joyous celebration of Queer Pasifika indigenous communities living in Oceania.

Film
2017 - Baby Mama's Club

2018 - Hibiscus & Ruthless

2018 - Fafswagvogue.com

2024 - Motherhood