Here Hau took 3rd place in the ahuroa/aparima division at the San Jose Tahiti Fete 2010.
Sadly, it was our last competition as an "ohana" (family).

This is Here Hau (Love and Peace) the former Halau(group) I used to dance for. We took 2nd place in the Ahuroa/Aparima division at Kiki Raina 2009 in Merced.

Ori Tahiti.

In art of Tahitian dancing there are 3 main forms of dance: O'tea, Aparima, & Ahuroa. 

• O'tea is usually part of warm ups and choreographed rapid hip motion which is synchronized with the unique formations and the vibrations coming off of the drums. In this form of Tahitian, you would always find the dancers in either pareos(short skirts) or grass skirts paired with a matching top or coconut bra and to finish it off a outrageous head piece.

• Aparima is more of a medium pace which is played by both the string and drums combined. This type of dance tells the story about daily life using intricate hand gestures flowing the semi-fast movements of the hips, but most of the time the story is about a vahine(girl) finding her way through the Polynesian islands. Look for the dancers wearing similar costumes as they did for O'tea except the headpiece is replaced with a flower.

• Ahuroa  is a very slow and sensational form of Tahitian dancing. It's more used for the women ages twenty - five and older. Like the aparima, Ahuroa uses intricate hand gestures but the hips are in more of a swaying action. The costume would a be a long dress that flows with a unique and individual design on it to had a little island flavor.

Just the beginning.

The reason I’ve started this blog focused on the roots and basics of Tahitian dancing, is because it is a passion of mine. I’ve been a dancer for 6 years and I love the experience. I’ve fallen in love with Tahitian dancing the first day I stepped onto the dance floor right before 7th grade. It was the rhythm of the drum beats that simultaneously went with the flow of the guitars that sent off a natural vibe. From then on I knew I wanted to continue my journey as a dancer. From family parties to recitals, then placing in competitions was a rush. The groups are always welcoming. There’s really nothing more I can ask for.