TOMASI Nacagilaba successfully graduated with a two-year diploma in dance from the Conservatorium of Dance, which he dedicated to his late father.
Mr Nacagilaba, who is originally from Naitasiri with maternal links to Lau, resides with his family in Cunningham, Suva. He is the youngest of eight siblings.
Reflecting on the challenges of his two-year journey, the dancer noted the difficulty of living away from home for the first time.
“It’s been a tough ride, I guess,” he said.
“Not getting to see my family, especially being brought up from home, getting dropped off every day to school and then suddenly you get to experience what life is without your parents constantly being there for you.”
Mr Nacagilaba described the experience as a shift in perspective, especially as the youngest sibling who previously had everything provided.
“Learning how to budget money, especially being brought up at home with everything provided was a major challenge.
“But then once I moved down here and I started pursuing dance, my whole perspective towards life changed.
“I have to try and stand on my own two feet and stop depending on my parents.”
Mr Nacagilaba said the hard work was worthwhile.
“All that blood and sweat, those early morning runs, its finally paid off. It finally paid off and I just feel so overwhelmed right now.
“I’m grateful for the family I found along the way, all from different parts of Fiji. We all made it together. We all made it work.”
Delving more into his journey, Nacagilaba said the seed for his passion in dance was first planted after completing his secondary school education.
He initially told his father he would stay home, but then made a different choice.
“I told him, I’m going to go down to Nadi and choose dancing and see where this goes.”
He joined the company in 2023, but the unexpected loss of his father occurred just two months after he moved to Nadi.
“Two months into my studies in Nadi, my dad passed away and then I didn’t feel the need to continue, so I left.
“After a few months of staying at home, I gradually realised that this is my happy place and that was the last thing I told him.
“I’m going to go and pursue this. I dedicate this achievement to him.”
Looking ahead, Nacagilaba is focused on expanding his presence in the creative arts.
“I graduated and I’m pursuing modelling at the moment. Next year is going to be my second-year modelling.
“I hope to get more into the creative industry, get more exposure, maybe build a social media platform where I’m known. And maybe even move abroad and continue to pursue more in dance.”
He is also working as a marketing rep, describing it as a great learning step.
In the process, Nacagilaba offers advice to other young men considering a career in dance, focusing on mindset and seizing opportunities.
“Before I would give advice to someone, I would say, everything is in your head, in your mind.
“If you change your mindset and the way you think towards something, you can achieve great things.
“Fiji is still a developing country and there’s a lot of opportunities out there, but you just must work towards it. You cannot wait, you have to go for it because opportunities come and go every day.”
