User:Jasminesiruno

“”Tahitian dancing”” is considered to be lively, vibrant, and spirited. It has started in the early ages of Tahiti by their Maohi ancestors. These dances were most likely to be performed at events and occasions. There are many styles of Tahitian dancing which include O’ta, Aparima, Hivinau, Pa’o’a, and Pata’utu’u. These dances include genuine hand gestures, complex hip movements, and intricate foot strategies. Tahitian dances are performed by the traditional island music, usually accompanied by the drums.

History
Starting in the early years of Tahiti, Tahitian dancing has always been an important and symbolic piece of performance. Tahitian dancing was mostly performed to greet guests in any given ceremony and was meant to reenact myths and legends through traditional dance. These dances were also used for prayer and worship dedicated to the ancient Gods. People would also use this style of dance to compete with others to attract or seduce a possible mate.

It still isn’t certain how Tahitian dancing originally started, but it is a practice that sets back to ancient Tahiti people and their Maohi ancestors. Early native Tahitians had strict and complex systems of religion, etiquette, social structure and artistry that also included dance and music. Dance was an important and popular cultural expression in Tahiti, but it suffered a setback during the 1800s. Early British colonists and missionaries who came to Tahiti found traditional Tahitian dances provocative and offensive. These dances usually included revealing traditional costumes, and some sensual movements and subject matter. In 1820, the British colonists abolished most forms of dance in Tahiti.

Traditional dance was illegal in Tahiti until the early 20th century, when it began a slow revival. Traditional costumes weren’t used in this time period, but only the hands, feet and face were revealed. In the 1950s, Tahitian dance started to gain back its momentum of traditional styles. The revival of Tahitian dancing has been revived by European presence because of their fascination. Although Tahitian Dance has changed some of it’s values since the beginning, it is still considered to be a unique traditional expression of Tahitian culture.

Styles
There are several styles of Tahitian dance, and the dances have to do with performers and their movement. One of the most popular dance styles is called Ote’a, which is performed by all male or all female dancers in a large group. This style of dance may include one dancer who may lead the way and improvise some movements. Another dance is the Aparima, which means ‘the kiss of hands.’ The Aparima tells a story with gentle hand gestures and is performed by a small group of dancers. The Hivinau ends most of the celebrations and it is lead by a dancer who is recognized for their talents and achievements. The Pa’o’a is generally inspired by scenes of fishing or hunting and only performed by some of the dancers. The Pata’uta’u dance uses the palms of their hands beating the ground and performed by one male and one female dancer. It has a fierce and arousing zest to this dance. Dancers usually mimic scenes from everyday life, which are also considered to be stylistically complex and athletic.

Costumes
Tahitian dance costumes are appealing to the eye. Their vibrant colors, beautiful patterns and their styles of apparel are mostly hand made by the dancers themselves. All costumes represent an important value to the Tahitian tradition. For example, dancers who honor the god Kane, whose body form is fresh water, may wear colors and patterns that imitate the body of water and may wear shells. Male and female dancers wear skirts, which are also referred to a “pa’u.” `In the early ages, they made their costumes out of bark cloth and painted patterns on them. Nowadays most people make skirts (pa’u) from woven cloth, dye, paint, or silkscreen patterns onto them. In ancient Hawaii, men and women usually wore nothing above their waists, but now it is a custom and required for both of them to wear a mu’umu’u, pareau, or other costumes that covered up their whole body.

Music
Tahitian da--Jasminesiruno (talk) 03:20, 19 April 2013 (UTC)nces are performed with the traditional island music. The drums that they use are made out of hollowed-out tree limbs and sharkskin. This traditional music is just right for Tahitian dancing because of its strong and powerful rhythmic beats. The other instruments that are used also include a conch and a nose flute. The conch, which is called a pu, creates a deep horn like tone. Nose flutes, also known as a vivo, are made from bamboo tubes where holes are carved into them.

Steps for Tahitian Dancing:
1.	Keep your feet an inch apart from each other, slightly bend your knees, and keep your shoulders still at all times. 2.	Push your hips out in a very smooth circular motion from left to the back then right and front, which is called the Ami. 3.	Keep shoulders still and bend knees. Make your right knee straight, causing your right hip to go to the right. Now do the same to left knee, causing your left hip to go left. Keep alternating from right to left smoothly, not sharply. This is called Tairi Tamau. 4.	Tairi Tama is similar to step 3, but it has sharp movements and can become faster. Drop body low. Keep your shoulders still and knees bent. Push right knee back and then left knee back continuously, causing hips to snap left and right. 5.	Varu is a figure eight. Slowly, but smoothly push your right hip out to the front and around to the right then back right into the left hip moving forward around to the left and back to the right. This should be a constant and continuous figure eight with your hips. 6.	Otamu is a box. Pretend you’re in a box and hitting each corner one at a time. Shift your hip to the front right then back right and then back left and front left. 7.	Fa’arapu is considered to be the most important and difficult step because of its fast and impressive movements Tahitian Dancers do. Bend your knees, keeping your feet at least one inch apart, and keeping your shoulders completely still. Just like step 2, slowly start to push your hips out in a smooth circular motion and then slowly start going faster, until the fastest you can go. 8.	Teki is where you try steps 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 on your tippy toes. 9.	Tefine is when you bend your knees all the way down so your bottom is touching your heels and you do all the steps