The very stage Navi Fong and his group of dancers used to perform at merely a decade ago is the same platform where his work as an entertainer was acknowledged and rewarded recently.
Navi the artistic director at Vou Dance Company scooped the Rising Star Award at the 2023 ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards held on Denarau Island.
VOU Dance also won the Training and Development Award during the FETA premier event.
The win though was not just something to celebrate because to him, it was more about highlighting the enormous contribution entertainment has had to the growth of the hospitality sector.
“I feel privileged to receive such an amazing award, its such a humbling experience to have been awarded the Rising Star award for 2023,” an emotional Navi said.
“I’ve been dancing with the Vou Dance Company going on 12 years now, we used to entertain at this very event.
“I used to dance on stage as an entertainer in 2014 and it’s kind of surreal full circle moment to win tonight.”
Navi believed the win highlighted the value of entertainment to the tourism industry and added value to the country’s tourism sector.
He said being awarded has set the bar high for the entertainment sector and he was blessed to have his work acknowledged as an entertainer.
He said such an acknowledgement was not just for him but the growth of the entertain sector a a whole.
“As they say, it takes a village to raise a child so I’m here tonight to acknowledge everyone who was there for my journey.
“There’s so many people that have been instrumental in my journey, my mum and my dad, the Vou directors and team and everyone that has supported me in my journey.
