Tahitian hula dancing proves its resilience in polynesian culture

Tahitian hula dancing the tamure (hula), beauty, drama, power... in ancient times, the tumure was directly linked to all aspects of life. They would dance for joy, to welcome visitors, to pray to a god, challenge an enemy, and seduce a mate.The hula dance is still accompanied by traditional musical instruments such as booming drums, conch shells, and the 8-string ukulele. Tahitian style hula dancing is a cultural dance that mimics the movement of the ocean. The “tamure” or “hula” is a dance from Tahiti and the Cook Islands and for the rest of the world it is the most popular dance and the mark of Tahiti.

Hula Dancing

The boys shake their knees as scissors, from there you get the word paoti(scissors) for this movement. In reality the motion of their knees is the engine that drives their hips, and their feet should stay flat on the ground, with shoulders stationary. The girls shake their hips and their long, loose hair, if they have it. However traditionally in the Ote'a or Ura Pa'u, the hips in Tahiti are rotated round and round in what is known as the washing machine movement, while in the Cook Islands the hips are in a side to side movement, this emphasis is less important due to the “tamure” or “hula” styles.

Tahitian hula dancing ...also uses hand movements that is of secondary importance. The girls mainly stand still, the boys move around their partner, facing them in front or hiding behind their back (as seen by guest). The tempo of the music is increased slowly up to the point where only the most experienced, fittest dancers can keep their “tamure” or “hula” up.The predecessor of the tamure, the traditional upa upa was outlawed by the missionaries for reasons of sexual connertations . Tamure is a foreign word, the name of a fish in the Tuamotu, the real name of the dance is ori Tahiti (Tahitian dance).

Return to hula-with-me "Home Page"