Festival of Voices

    Salama: Island Rhapsodies

    Experience Maloya music and dance in a vibrant celebration of Réunionese Creole culture

    Watch Salama, the dynamic, award-winning performance ensemble led by acclaimed artist and cultural advocate Dr Muriel Hillion-Toulcanon, as they bring the rhythms and stories of Réunion Island to life.

    Réunion Island – a lush, volcanic and mountainous island in the Indian Ocean – is home to a unique blend of cultures shaped by a history of colonisation, slavery, and migration. At the heart of this culture is Maloya, a powerful music and dance tradition born of resilience, storytelling, and community expression. Once banned by authorities and performed in secret, Maloya is now recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

    Salama’s interpretation of Maloya is immersive and unforgettable, blending traditional percussion, soulful vocals and expressive movement with stories that explore emancipation, womanhood, childhood, and love. Their original songs are performed in Malagasy and Creole languages, reflecting the group’s diverse cultural roots from La Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles, West Africa, Sri Lanka, and beyond.

    Following their award-winning season at Fringe World Perth 2023 (Best Music/Musicals), Salama now brings Island Rhapsodies to Festival of Voices in its first Tasmanian appearance. This is more than entertainment – it’s a heartfelt expression of cultural memory, identity, and resistance passed through generations.

    Whether discovering Maloya for the first time or reconnecting with Creole roots, Island Rhapsodies welcomes all with its joyful energy, universal themes of freedom and belonging, and a vibrant showcase of Indian Ocean island culture.

    Content warning: This performance includes loud percussions.

    Event Details

    Salama: Island Rhapsodies
    Sun 29 June, 5.00 pm
    $55
    Tickets

    Full price – $55

    Booking fee

    • For bookings with a total value of $20 or less, a booking fee of $3 will be added upon check-out.
    • For bookings with a total value between $20.01 and $199.99, a booking fee of $5 will be added upon
      check-out.
    • For bookings with a total value of $200 or more, a booking fee of $10 will be added upon check-out.

    Duration

    1hr 50mins (including a 20min interval)

    Ian Potter Recital Hall

    Getting to the venue 

    • The Ian Potter Recital Hall is within the Theatre Royal Building at 19-27 Campbell St, Hobart TAS 7000 
    • Drop off car spaces are available at the entrance to the Theatre Royal on Collins Street. 
    • accessible parking spaces are available outside the Theatre Royal on Collins Street (1 hour time limit applies)
    • Please follow this link to experience a virtual tour of the venue. 

    See this venue’s accessibility options.

    Conditions of Sale
    • Read the full conditions of sale.
    • Festival of Voices adheres to the Live Performance Australia Ticketing Code of Practice.
    • All tickets and registrations are non-refundable unless otherwise specified on the specific event page.
    Festival FAQs

    Read Festival of Voices’ frequently asked questions.

    Contact Us

    For assistance please contact us on 03 6224 5975 or at [email protected].