Island Breeze gospel dancers move to Orlando

LUTZ -- Island Breeze, a Christian outreach group that spreads the gospel while performing traditional dances of the South Pacific, has relocated from North Tampa to Orlando.

The organization, which arrived in Tampa in 1995 under the direction of Al and Maima Brown, gave a final performance May 24 at Lutz's Grace Family Church and moved to Orlando this week.

The performers hope to find a wider audience in Orlando, while continuing to develop as performers.

"Our original calling was to establish Island Breeze in Orlando," said Maima Brown, one of its founders. "Now we have the opportunity to fulfill God's will."

Launched in 1979, Island Breeze moved in 1980 from Fiji to American Samoa and began to spread to other nations. Today there are eight locations around the world, including Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Zealand and Brazil.

Most of its members are of Polynesian descent, and the group seeks to preserve cultural traditions around the globe.

"We don't have to let go of our cultures to become Christians, as was taught to most natives by the first missionaries," Brown said. "We believe God is the originator of cultures, and we are to use our cultural expression to bring honor to him."

Island Breeze celebrates its Polynesian roots during evangelical tours, often in remote parts of the world. They've ministered to native Maori tribes of New Zealand, have preached in Australia's Outback, have run camps for American Indian children in different parts of the United States and performed during the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

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