| March 17, 2001 Polynesian Dancing in Living Legends As the auditorium was dark, I was unable to read my program throughout the entire performance. However, I was able, at least, to pick out when Hawaii and New Zealand were dancing based on the recognition of various steps and rituals. In the first Hawaiian dance, the Kualoloa, the dancers came out onto the stage chanting a two-note song – or an oli. This was the first hint that they were Hawaiian dancers. During the dance, their movements were very graceful, and their eyes always went where their hands went. Familiar steps included the hela and the uwehe. Then at the end, the kahea was the same one that we used on our first practical – the one that’s “from the bosom of Pele” or something like that. This made me curious because it wasn’t the same dance that we did. Do they always say the same kahea at the end? It was easy to tell the Polynesian dancers as soon as they came out. But the next groups were from Samoa and Tahiti. I realized they were not from Hawaii or New Zealand because there was no kahea, and especially because during their dances their hands were displayed palms out towards the audience – an offensive gesture in New Zealand. Shortly after followed the New Zealand group. The most recognizable part (as well as most humorous) was the haka. All of the men came close the stage, shaking their hands in a frightening wiri. Their faces were distorted, their eyes huge, and their tongues lolled around their mouths. This confused me until I remembered the pukana – and then I realized what they were doing. I very much enjoyed the different dances, and it was fun to pick out the things we’ve learned in class. It was also interesting to note how well they applied these things, as opposed to our clumsy efforts in class. And I fully understand how frightening the pukana might be – if they are trying to scare off a female. |