D A N C E S
A majority of the dances seen throughout the islands often focus on themes such as everyday life, love, loss, religion, and/or mythology. It is common for a number of different songs and dances to be woven together to create a larger theme or repertoire.
TAHITIAN 'ORI The variety of styles of ori (dance) is vast. 'Ote'a is the most spectacular of all Polynesian dances, performed by a group of male dancers ('Ote'a tane) or a group of female dancers ('Ote'a Vahine) or sometimes male and female dancers ('Ote'a Amui). The instruments used are the Pahu (Shark skin base drum), tuede (hollowed log drum), and fa'a te'te (used with 2 sticks on a small shark skin drum). Fast shaking hip movements dance along with the intense drums by the vahine (female) and paoti which are intense leg bearing movements by the tane (male).
The aparima is characterized by instrumental melody and closely resembles the well known hula of Hawai'i with graceful movements complimenting the lyrics of the musical accompaniment. The Aparima tells a story set to music and mimed by gracious gestures of the hands. The aparima is a group dance inspired by scenes of daily life. A form of Aparima Ahuroa is a slower paced dance. Dancers wear a ahu purotu (a long missionary dress).In HAWAI'IAN HULA , there are two main styles that are performed which are the modern auana and the ancient kahiko. The auana style encompasses lyrics and melody to tell a story with the hands while the Kahiko is about the connection of the ancestors through sacred chants and powerful dances. Spiritual meaning defines these sacred dances by it's mana (power).
The SAMOAN Dances include the Siva Siva, Samoan slap dance, lapa lapa (stick dance), Sa Sa (sit down slap/clap dance), Samoan fire knife (warrior weapon dance) and Talalunga the (princess dance). These dances are both graceful and energetic!
NEW ZEALAND MAORI The land of the long white clouds. The Maori people have a very rich and strong culture. The most popular of the dances would be the Poi dance and the Haka warrior dance? The Haka is a warrior chant performed by men and women in order to intimidate their opponents during war. It is very aggressive made with very expressive facial gestures and body movements. Eyes are wide open, tongs sticking out and voices are loud. The Haka is started out with the wedo in which the leader of 1 tribe lays down a leaf or feather and trys to seek out the leader of the opposing tribe. If the opposing tribes leader picks up the leaf, it is a form of respect and surrender but if he doesn't pick up the leaf, it means WAR. This is perfomed now as a tradition to remember the history of the Maori people, the ancestors and the wars that were fought in order to keep ownership of their land which was overtaken by the British. Most of all, to keep their spirits strong no matter what challenges they face.
During the poi ball dance women traditionally perform these dances although it is said that the men used the long poi as weapons for war. Now women use them not only for cultural tradition but for hand/eye dexterity. Its roots come from a form of martial arts and today is used for performances. Short poi is also performed with a group of women going all at the same time to a musical accompaniment. In modern times, men and women all over the world practice poi with fire at the end of wires or chains.Bibliography:
English-Tahitian Dictionary by Sven Wahlroos, Ph.D. Taote Tivini. Published by the Maohi heritage press, Honolulu, Hawai 96816. Copyright 2002 Sven Wahlroos.
Tahiti Handbook. David Stanley. Moon travel handbooks. Published by Avalon Travel Publishing Inc. 5855 Beaudry St. Emeryville, CA. 94608, USA. David Stanley, 1999. All rights reserved.
San Jose Tahiti Fete website. Description of dance styles.
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