Sorpapelu, also known as Pelu, is a dancer, choreographer and costume designer at the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies at the Univeristy of the South Pacific in Fiji.

Pelu 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.

Pelu believes that dance is a beautiful expression of who he is and it allows him to know his feminine self more. He is no stranger to the arts scene in the Pacific having choreographed for a number of dance groups across the region and collaborated with local and international choreographers.

Pelu loves classical music and uses this genre as a source of inspiration to choreograph just about anything. In 2008, he won the award for Best Contemporary Solo Dancer at Dance Fiji, the Fiji national dance competition, and the following month was the only contemporary dance soloist from Fiji at the Dreaming Festival in Australia.

Pelu co-choreographed for the contemporary dance category that represented Fiji to the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts held in American Samoa, also in 2008. In 2005, Pelu toured with the Oceania Dance Theatre to New Zealand for the Dance Moves Conference at the Te Papa Museum. In 2003 and 2004, he played the lead role in Allan Alo's dance production Tatau. In 2007, Pelu created his debut original dance production titled Le' Fesau'ta- The Prodigal Son. He has also conducted dance workshops for youths who have taken the initiative to form their own dance groups, including Maurea Dance Group and Tafaga Entertainment Group.

Pelu has taught winning schools for Tadra-Kahani, the annual Fiji school dance competition, including taking home awards for Best Choreography, Best Costume and Best Set Design. He has travelled with the Oceania Dance Theatre to South Africa for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 and to China for the 1st Asia-Pacific Youth Arts Festival. Pelu hopes to inspire youth to continue to be real and to be honest in what they do as artists, especially as it serves to strengthen and build communities.

Source: http://www.usp.ac.fj/?10577