The love of all things Disney is usually passed down from a family member because they grew up around Disney or may have even worked for Disney at one point in their life. When that love is passed down, it can create moments that one can only dream about.

Orlando native Alema Vaiaoga performs fire knife dancing in the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He also appeared as one of Moana’s ancestors in the live-action film, where he shared his skills behind the scenes, helping train stunt performers in Pacific movement and fire knife techniques. 

His story, however, starts much closer to home. Alema learned the craft from his father, a fellow Disney performer whose career began in 1971 when he joined the opening cast of the Spirit of Aloha show at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. In 1998, he brought that tradition to the opening cast of Festival of the Lion King. For Alema, he learned from his father during these years and developed the skills that would one day shape his own career. Today, he’s following in his father’s footsteps while teaching his own sons — who can now watch the movie and say, “That’s my dad.” 

His story is one of family legacy, sharing culture and the unexpected places a passion can take you.

“Growing up, fire performing was my baseball,” Alema said. “That was my extracurricular activity. I was learning fire knife dance with my dad behind the scenes.”

When his father retired from Disney, Alema auditioned and followed in his footsteps, continuing a legacy that now spans generations. Today, he performs before thousands of guests each week, sharing a craft deeply rooted in Pacific culture. When he isn’t working at Disney, he teaches his own sons the traditional dance.

Alema’s Samoan heritage remains central to his life, and he sees each show as an opportunity to introduce guests to traditions that have been passed down through generations.

“Not many cultures are able to do their cultural dance in a Disney show,” Alema said. “We’re very fortunate that we get to do that. It opens the door for us to share who we are and show people the love.”

Alema enjoys sharing his culture offstage, as well. Whether interacting with guests, mentoring fellow performers, or helping preserve cultural traditions for the next generation, Alema strives to bring values like family, service, and community to work every day.

“We’re very strong in keeping the culture alive,” Alema said. “We’re very family-oriented, and service is a big thing. That’s how we show our love.” 

Alema’s talent and skill recently led him to an unexpected opportunity when he was cast as one of Moana’s ancestors in Disney’s live-action reimagining of Moana (streaming on Disney+).

What began as a single opportunity quickly evolved into several contributions behind the scenes. After sharing his experience and skill set with others on set, Alema was sought after to help train stunt performers in Pacific movement and fire knife techniques.

“It was a blessing because it literally fell into my lap,” Alema said. “I went there ready to work, ready to learn and ready to share what I knew.”

While the film experience was unforgettable, Alema says the most meaningful part was sharing it with family and friends, including his children.

“I wanted them to have something to look back on,” he said. “They can always say, ‘That’s my dad’ when they watch the movie. That’s really special to me.” 

Today, as a father himself, Alema often reflects on the example his own dad set and the opportunities Disney provided his family.

He hopes guests watching Festival of the Lion King see more than an impressive performance. He hopes they see a culture being celebrated, a family legacy being carried forward, and the power of storytelling to connect people from around the world. 

“I’m thankful for the people who paved the way before me,” Alema said. “Because of them, I get to provide for my family doing what I love, and my kids get to see their dad up there doing it.”

What do you think about this family’s legacy as they continue an important tradition? Have you ever seen the fire knife performer during the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments.