A dinner and floorshow will be held tonight, Friday, in celebration of the Tonga National Cultural Centre’s first group of students completing their certificates in traditional Tongan dance.

In an endeavour to retain Tonga’s authentic culture, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reconstructed the centre to revive the teaching of Tongan traditional dance, music, arts and plants, promoting places and sites of cultural significance, and to preserve Tongan culture in a changing world.

Japan’s Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr Yukio Numata, will present students with their certificates.

The event will involve tree planting of traditional Tongan plants, a certificate award ceremony and a dinner and floorshow.

The event is open to the public (with a dinner price) and will begin at 6.30pm tonight at the Tonga National Cultural Centre.