Wansolmoana Lunar Assembly

Name: Wansolmoana Lunar Assembly
Start: 2026-01-18 20:00:00+11:00
End: 2026-01-18 20:00:00+11:00
Location: McIver's Ladies Baths

Latai Taumoepeau

Tonga & Australia

Ocean, moon, water, womb. Let the tide wash over you.

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Description

World Premiere

A night to reflect, to dream, to float in the salt water and renew the spirit. The WansolMoana Lunar Assembly is a soft space and spiritual celebration of feminine sovereignty and collective power. 

Led by Tongan Australian performance artist Latai Taumoepeau at Sydney’s historic McIver’s Ladies Baths, this durational ceremony invites over 100 women and children to participate in a night of meditation, music and cleansing at the last remaining women-only ocean pool in the world during sundown. Taumoepeau reclaims the restorative properties of water, salt, weeds and sea life – composing a lunar assembly that howls back at violence and invites the audience into a shared act of renewal.   

Rooted in fonua (land/place/body) and vā (relational space), here the ocean is both witness and salve. Cleanse and renew with a traditional tuitui (candlenut) scrub, cast intentions into the tide and be guided through ceremony by Gadigal, Dharawal, Yuin and Wiradjuri multidisciplinary artist and Knowledge Holder Nadeena Dixon. Within the pool, an Indigenous Pacific sonic meditation unfolds with aquatic percussion by surf mum Barapang Nani Kuntamari Crofts from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the virtuosic fangufangu (bamboo nose-flute) of queer Australian Tongan multidisciplinary artist Adriana Māhanga Lear.  

You can also enjoy this experience at the accessible location of Malabar Ocean Pool.

“It's a ritual and ceremony for our times, steeped in tradition; a call to action; and a love letter to her ancestral homeland of Tonga.” Daniel Browning, ABC Listen, on Latai’s exhibition, “Deep communion sung in minor” 

DANIEL BROWNING, ABC LISTEN, ON LATAI'S EXHIBITION “DEEP COMMUNION SUNG IN MINOR” 

Music Immersive Summer School

Latai Taumoepeau

Tonga & Australia

Latai Taumoepeau makes live-art-work. Her faiva (body-centred practice) is from her homelands, the Island Kingdom of Tonga and her birthplace Sydney, land of the Gadigal people. She mimicked, trained and un-learned dance, in multiple institutions of learning, starting with her village, a suburban church hall, the nightclubs and a university. Her faivā (performing art) centres Tongan philosophies of relational space and time; cross- pollinating ancient and everyday temporal practice to make visible the impact of climate crisis in the Pacific. She conducts urgent environmental movements and actions to assist transformation in Oceania. Latai engages in the socio-political landscape of Australia with sensibilities in race, class and the female body politic; committed to bringing the voice of unseen communities to the frangipani-less foreground. In the near future she will return to her ancestral home and continue the ultimate faiva of sea voyaging and celestial navigation before she transforms into ancestor.

Credits

Important Information

A welcoming space for women (including trans women) and children.

FAQ'S

What safety considerations should I be aware of?
The performance involves the optional application of a tuitui (candlenut) scrub. Any attendees with nut allergies should contact the festival for more details. This event involves swimming in potentially deep water, climbing steep stairs and navigating slippery surfaces, audiences must take care.

I'm not a strong swimmer/I cannot swim. Should I come along?
If you cannot swim you should avoid getting into the water. There will be opportunities for you to take part without swimming. If you are not a confident swimmer, please inform the festival staff and the lifeguard on site so we can make sure you are safe in or near the water. A limited number of floatation devices will also be available.

Where do I meet for the beginning of the show?
Meet at the Coogee Rotunda near Grant Reserve at South Coogee headland to get your ticket scanned. Festival staff will lead you into the event space as the performance is about to begin.

Are men allowed to take part in this performance? Men are not allowed to attend the McIver’s Ladies baths performance as this is a women and childen-only space. However, men are welcome at the relaxed performance of WansolMoana Lunar Assembly at Malabar Ocean Pools on January 19th 2026.

What should I bring with me?
Bring swimming attire, a bottle of water, a towel, sturdy non-slip shoes and a change of clothes.

What should I NOT bring with me?
Don't bring any valuables. Don't bring excessive items or anything you don't want to get wet. There will not be a secure, undercover place to leave your bags, and there is limited space at the baths. There will however be a designated zone to drop your bags off, which will be monitored by a Sydney Festival volunteer.

Will there be food and drink available?
There is no bar at this event and food and drink will not be available to purchase.

Are trans women welcome?
Yes. These are the guidelines of the McIver's Ladies Baths: The McIver's Ladies baths welcomes women of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, trans women and girls, and sexual orientations. Their conditions of entry require all patrons to show respect and understanding toward each other.

Are children of all genders welcome?
McIver’s Ladies Baths is a women and children’s space, with boys under the age of 13 permitted if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Is there parking available nearby?
Yes. There is timed street parking available around Grant Reserve. This can be busy during the summer months so please arrive early to ensure you get a spot.

What should I expect from this event?
This is a durational ritual performance in which time intentionally moves slowly. Expect to be led through a series of quiet and communal participatory experiences by lead artist Latai Taumoepeau and her collaborators. Expect to feel the warm embrace of Country, connect with yourself and share hopes for the new moon cycle. Practically, you will be in a natural site with everything the location itself brings. So expect to get wet, and feel the heat or cold in the environment, therefore prepare accordingly.

Can I take photographs or record the performance?
No, photography and videography is not permitted at this event as the artist would like you to be present for the durational ritual performance. Sydney Festival is organising official documentation of the event.

Is there anything else I need to know?
This is a participatory event where every aspect of participation is based on your ability and consent. If you need to leave the performance at any point, please do so discreetly. One component of the performance involves the application of a tuitui (candlenut) scrub. If you have an allergy, please refrain from participating in this portion of the performance and let the team know. There is a first aid kit with an epi-pen on site.

Dates