Traditional Polynesian Dance

Traditional Polynesian song and dance is inspired by the ancient legends and folklore passed down from their gods. Officially banned following the religious conversion of the late 19th century, It was the onset of tourism in the 20th century that helped to revive these traditional customs.

A traditional female dancer was wrapped in tapa (a fabric made from pounding and softening tree bark) decorated with feathers, shells and mother of pearl. The costumes of today’s female dancers include a more (or skirt), a belt and a bra made of seashells or coconut shells. Male dancers also wear a more, a belt and a large headdress. Dancers hold feathers or pompoms to accentuate their moves and move to the beats of a variety of drums, nasal flutes, conch shells and ukuleles.

There are 4 major types of traditional dances:

• otea - a war dance where a group of dancers line up in rows and are accompanied with percussion
  
• hivinau - dancers move in circles to the beat of drums and sing in unison to answer a male soloist
  
• aparima - danced in rows, scenes of daily life are mimed and accompanied a guitar, ukulele and vocals
  
• pao’a - a sensual dance, a couple dancers improvise in the center of a half-circle while the other dancers sit on the ground clapping to the beat.

Traditional dance performances are held at many of the world-class resorts throughout the island. At the exclusive Hotel Bora Bora (Tel: +689-60-44-60), a weekly feature is traditional island singing and dancing, with sunset cocktails at the Pofai Beach Bar. At the luxurious Moana Beach Parkroyal (Tel: +689-60-49-00), there are folkloric shows three times a week and a Tahitian trio performance nightly on the terrace. Many other hotels also offer traditional Tahitian dancing and singing, so ask at the reception desk for costs and schedule.