‘Ori Tahiti

by Whitt Birnie

An annual gathering of ‘Ori Tahiti dancers recently appeared in Punaauia, Tahiti, for a semi-private competition of solo and group performances.  The World Championships of this native Tahitian dance competition followed. It was a particularly high privilege to carry a camera among these artists in the moments before and after they went onstage.

Having worked in foreign language oral expression and comprehension at a French University in the Indian Ocean with young women of approximately these age groups, I was familiar with the culmination of hard work that went into the preparation for these types of exams.  Accurate notation requires an ability to seem transparent so that the student can express her or himself best.

I tried to use that ability to remain distant and apply it to photographing a rare event, where women from around the world meet to perform onstage under a strict set of rules. In short, I wanted to show how lovely and composed they were on their day of tests, an event many may never forget.

Skilled as they are with their camera-phones, many of the girl’s own photos showed how dated my digital camera has become, so this might be a good time to retire it too.

The fine art of dance, particularly this one, honors the colourful bounty of nature, the deep wealth of Tahitian culture and traditions, the good health of its devoted participants, the discipline required to excel, the necessity of learning to express oneself with gestures and movements, the requirements of working together as a group, the sacrifices, the abstinences, the memorizations, the skills, balance, strength and techniques… I can’t think of anything more difficult to accomplish well than this.

Ocean waves, tamed by outlying coral reefs, ripple ashore and gently land in the hand of an ‘Ori Tahiti dancer. These artists borrow from nature and everyday human activity to weave and create visual stories that stimulate the imagination. They offer to take your mind for a dance. Never pass up that chance.

With a majestic roof of flowering flamboyant branches overhead, a group of visiting ‘Ori Tahiti dancers from Japan organize and prepare for their stage performances. Their long voyages are justified as a valuable commitment to cultural exchange, a respect for traditions and help build a useful learning experience for all those involved. Admirable.

Their motion imitates bird-flight as they alight in the gardens

Tahitian tradition, carrying headdress and costume into the dances

Directress Tumata Robinson arrives on cue to open the ‘Ori Tahiti Nui Competitions, a Tahitian cultural event of the highest order.

First Prize, ‘Ori Tahiti Dance Family, Whitt88 photos, Punaauia. Tahitian Cultural Dance Traditions

Competition check-in, getting tagged for evaluations

Women at work, well-organized, orderly, quiet, joyous and peaceful

First Prize, Group Pose, Bests category. Nine visiting ‘Ori Tahiti Nui Solo dancers from Japan, organize themselves and take nine different poses together at the end of the competitions.