Samoan hula dancing, the performers body is his or hers dance instrument

Samoan hula dancing has a term called the Siva which is the Samoan word to "dance". you will hear this word a lot if you are attending a Samoan wedding, birthday or a social. The Siva is a very strong form of expression for those that participate in it, and you do have to watch out not to get jumped on in the excitement.

Western influences have been integrated into their music with the guitar and various other instruments. Samoan hula culture for the most part was not affected from the west, and this is shown in their unique style of dance.

Hula Dancing

When you watch a Samoan dancer their hand and arm movements are very strong with great straight lines, you have to watch carefully, if you blink you may miss something extraordinary. They balance this style of action with strength and grace.

Sitting down on the ground or standing are two forms of dance, when these are actioned they are in a formation arrangement, which is a typical set up like there arm movements, straight lines.

The Fiafia a traditional Samoan event that includes a meal where Samoan dance and culture are performed. The Fiafia can and does become a crowd interaction dance, so if you find yourself near the front watch out.

The Sasa is one of the main dances performed in Samoan culture for male and female, with a small wooden drum playing out the beat. The movements are an all over body function from hand clapping to slapping both legs, chest and other parts of the human anatomy.

Also in the Sasa the main sounds that are herd are the slapping and the occasional voice shriek and chanting, Talofa or Soifua or Samoa which are the terms for hello, goodbye and my country. The other vocals come from the small wooden drum and the drummer.

In more traditional Samoan hula dancing their unique side-to-side sway movement with the patterned style is very evident, and dance attire could be a loin-cloth for men, or a, lava lava for both genders. Women also would wear matting made from the Pandanus which is turned into ie toga . Men wore necklaces or anklets made from leaves, they truly look allegiant while being fierce when performaning an action song or a war dance.

Fire dancing is also commonly associated with Samoan hula dancing culture as it is in many other Pacific countries .. but they do have their slight differences with their techniques, but in the end you can get burnt, no matter what part of the Pacific you are from .. "Ouch" .. "hot hot hot"

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