The Tiare Flower

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The tiare flowers are one of the most significant flowers in Tahiti. It is said to be the "queen" of all tahitian flowers for its purity and scent. It is worn usually in the hair of tahitian women and guaranteed to be in almost every garden of Tahitians. These flowers are used in many ways. For example, Tahitians use this flower for leis, and headpieces. In tahitian competitions or shows, you will most likely see this tiare flower in the hair, or headpiece, and sometimes even on the costume itself. This flower is very significant to the Tahitians. The Tahitians are very attached to the flower and wear them a lot in their hair.

"The tradition shows that if a flower is worn behind the left ear, it means that his/her love is taken, on the opposite ear side, it means that the heart is vacant for love. However, if a Tahitian waves the Tiare behind his head, it means 'follow me'." 

http://www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk/articles.php?id=1558

Tahiti Fete

Tahiti Fete is one of the biggest events for tahitian dancing. It's usually held at San Jose state. This event happens yearly, but with each year, many get better with their dance skills. Tahiti Fete is so momentous that it takes hours and hours of practice for the different routines, and hours of costume making. Usually before tahiti fete, our instructor would make us practice 8+ hours until we had our routine down perfectly. If one were to mess up, it was drop and give 50 push ups. It may sound a bit harsh, and very tough, but the outcome is equal to the amount of effort one puts into something.

Click here to see video clips of routines from 2003.
Not the latest one, but this shows different routines with the different groups.

Some steps!

In this post, I'm including some dance steps we use to create a regular routine. We use these steps everyday in our practice to help us improve. This also helps keep me in shape :)


- Afata (AH-fata): Think of this as the box. You're hips hit in the shape of a box, or square. It's a very simple step. Once you've gotten it down, you must learn to go at a faster pace.

-Fa'arapu (Fah-ah-rah-poo): In this move, you move your hips into a circle motion. And as you get this down, you learn to move at a faster pace.

-Tamau(Tah-mow): This move, it's a sway right, then a sway left, so your hips are basically bumping from side to side.

-Toma(toe-ma): This step is very similar to the tamau. With this you do the same move, but you double bump. So your hips hit twice to one side then twice to the other.


And last,

-Varu(Vah-roo): This move is a figure eight. In this move, your hips move in the shape of a figure eight parallel to the floor.


These aren't all the steps, these are just the main ones that we do on a regular basis. There are many others to learn as well :) each and every unique one.

The Essential: Pareo

What is a pareo (pah-ray-oh)? One of the essentials to tahitian dancing of course. One must use this to dance in. It can be for any typical practice, and/or when competing, is part of a costume, and could be of any color. It's basically a skirt. It comes in different sizes, and it doesn't really matter when making your costume or just simply the pareo itself. You can always get it altered! There are plenty of different patterns/designs as well. In Hawaii, they sell plenty of them too. But you don't have to travel all the way to Hawaii to get one! You can usually pick these up at fabric places and make your own. Once you've got your pareo, you're ready to go and dance! How it's worn is pretty easy to figure out. All you do is wrap around your lower body, and tie it to either your left or right side. Whichever is more comfortable for one.

First off..

Hello there! This blog is basically about tahitian dancing! And for those who are unfamiliar with what it is, tahitian dancing is a type of polynesian dance. And this blog is here to show you more about it. In this blog, I'll include plenty of information on it. From the meanings and origins of each dance routine and steps, to materials that's used, to upcoming events and shows! I'll also post up plenty pictures and if it's possible maybe even some short video clips of some dance routines. Tahitian has played a huge part of my life and I want to be able to share the experience and let people get a chance to learn a bit about it. So enjoy! 


(photo by nina)