Transcript Tahitian Dance

Tahitian Dance
History
Dance has always been essential to the
Tahitian culture. Before European influence,
dance was an entertainment often practiced
without the social inhibitions of the
European. Tahitians often danced nude or
semi-nude, which greatly shocked European
Explorers.
European Explorers
The young girls whenever they can collect 8 or 10
together dance a very indecent dance which they call
Timorodee singing most indecent songs and useing
most indecent actions in the practice of which they are
brought up from their earlyest Childhood.
-- Capt. James Cook, after seeing his first Tahitian
dance show in 1769
Prohibition of Dancing
In 1819 dancing was strictly prohibited under British rule by the Pomare code.
It stated, “Any song, game, or lascive entertainment is strictly prohibited.”
Tahitians continued dancing in secret; however, over the course of time parts of
Tahitian dance began to be lost.
In 1842, France took
control of the territory;
however, limitations on
dancing continued for
approximately the next
100 years.
Tahitians began dancing
openly again around the
1950’s.
Modern Dances
Tahitian dancing has changed over time and
has developed into existing Tahitian
dances. These dances include:
• Ote’a
• Aparima
• Hivinau
• Tamure
• and other dances…
Otea
Aparima
The ‘aparima’ is an expressive dance that tells a
story gracefully through the use of slow hand
movements and gestures. Translated literally,
‘apa’ means kiss, and ‘rima’ means hand.
Tamure
The Tamure is a modern dance that developed
out of a variety of Tahitian dances. It
practices very gender specific movements
that are unique to Tahitian culture.
Men and women
have very
distinctive roles in
the tamure.
Tamure - Women
In the Tamure, women’s movements
include:
• Keep the knees slightly bent
• Keep the bust and shoulders motionless
• Move hips in a ‘rolling’ way
Tamure - Men
In the Tamure men’s
movements include:
• Keep kness slightly bent
• Knees open and close as
scissors
• Torso must remain
straight
• Kick forward
accompanied with move
of fists
Fire Dance
Costumes
Instruments
To’ere