Tahitian Dance Research Paper

Tahitian dance is exuberant and vibrant, and has a long history of cultural consequentiality. These dances are associated with certain events and occasions, and there are multiple dance styles. Tahitian dance has had an arduous history, but despite setbacks to this artistic expression, it remains a popular and recognizable aspect of Tahitian cultural tradition.

In the early age of Tahitian dancing, performances were symbolic and consequential, not just an art form. Native people of Tahiti had different dances for different occasions. For example, there was a dance that was performed to greet guests at an official ceremony. Other dances were designated for prayer and worship ceremonies dedicated to antediluvian gods. Some dances were more personal, and people danced to challenge an adversary to combat or to seduce and entice a potential mate. Tahitian myths and legends were acted out through traditional dance.

There are many different styles of Tahitian dance, and the variations have to do with kineticism and performers. One of the most popular dance styles is ote'a, which is performed by an immensely colossal group of either all male or all female dancers. Traditional costumes are worn for this, as well as most other styles. A dance called a …show more content…
Drums, composed of hollowed-out tree limbs and shark skin, feature heavily in Tahitian music. Dance music is vigorously rhythmic and potent, and these qualities are additionally characteristic of the dancing. Other instruments include the conch and the nasal perceiver flute. The conch, called a pu, is blown like a horn to engender a deep, reverberating tone. Nasal discerner flutes, called vivo, are made from bamboo tubes with apertures carved into them, and they are played by exhaling out of the nasal discerner and into the flute. These traditional instruments and music styles have been used to accompany Tahitian dancing throughout