Ori Tahiti Dance workshops with Hirohiti Tematahotoa - direct from Tahiti

Announcement letter from Fenty Kaliman,
director of marketing, Mahea Productions and Ka Ua Tuahine

Ia orana,

Direct from Tahiti! THREE Tahitian dance workshops with Hirohiti Tematahotoa. Learn the vibrant and exciting dance of Tahiti with Master Choreographer and Dancer Hirohiti Tematahotoa.

Former director of choreography for the acclaimed Tahitian dance company Orihere Maohi, Hiro was named King of Heiva in 2002 and was featured in the award-winning documentary Black Pearl, by Hoku Uchiyama. He has also choreographed and composed material for KaUaTuahine Polynesian Dance Company. KaUaTuahine has performed Hiro's work in California, Tahiti, and Aotearoa (New Zealand). Hiro has also served as a judge for the 2005 San Jose Tahiti Fete.

Beginning Level - Thursday, July 2, 2009, 7:00 - 10:00PM.
Learn the basics of Tahitian dance and an 'aparima and 'ote'a.

Intermediate and Advanced Level - Thursday, July 9, 2009, 7:00 - 10:00PM.
Instruction in ahuroa and 'ote'a.

Workshop Fee $75. To register for these events, please go to www.brownpapertickets.com

There is limited space available. Register early to reserve your place.

All workshops are held at 729 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710

Notes

Please bring a pareu or sarong. All levels of experience welcomed. Drinks and refreshments will be made available for sale.

PLEASE NO RECORDING DEVICES OF ANY KIND. CD of the music will be made availabel for sale.

:) Fenty Kaliman

for The Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance

www.mahea.com

Phone: 1.510.845.2605

Hura Tahiti results

The 2009 Hura Tahiti Tahitian dance competition just took place this past weekend. Dance groups and soloists came from the greater California area and competed at the Hope International University in Fullerton, CA. The Southern California event is produced by Alex Tekurio.

Evelyn Bustamante of Da Island Way and Glenn Salonga of Manuia Polynesia were awarded overall vahine and tane soloists, respectively. And the dance group Manuia Polynesia, led by Tommy Tualaulelei, of San Francisco was named the overall group.

Competing groups included Da Island Way, Heali'is Polynesian Revue, Hui Tama Nui, Kaleo O'Nalani, Kawailehua Hula Ohana, Le Polynesia, Lei Isa, Manea Dancers, Manuia Polynesia, Mata'i Rea, Nemenzo, Nonosina, Puahi's Polynesian Dancers, Te Mana O Te Ra, Te Pura O Te Rahura'a, Varua Hae, and several independent dancers.

In addition to being the event producer and leading ra'atira of his own dance group, Hitia O Te Ra, Alex Tekurio is also taking a group to this years Heiva i Tahiti next month. The event is the original Tahitian dance competition that takes place annually in Papeete, Tahiti at Place To'ata.

Here are the results for the 2009 Hura Tahiti:

Soloist Awards

Age 5-7 Tamahine
1. Hope Fiaseu of Nonosina
2. Melia Timo of Nonosina
3. Kealani Rivera of Nonosina

Age 5-7 Tamaroa
1. Kobe Keoni Johnson-Dulay of Nemenzo
2. David Cordy - Independent
3. Dean Serrano of Lei Isa

Age 8-10 Tamahine
1. Lorie Pamatmat of Da Island Way
2. Fiona O'Neil of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
3. Leilani Sabit of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a

Age 8-10 Tamaroa
1. Arik Gaoay of Nonosina
2. Yuaki Goto of Heali'is Polynesian Revue
3. Joshua Bennett of Nonosina

Age 11-13 Vahine
1. Juliet Basnett - Independent
2. Melanie-Marie Amen of Mata'i Rea
3. Sammy McClymonds - Independent

Age 14-17 Vahine
1. Tabitha Tabbert of Lei Isa
2. Stephanie Efnor of Nonosina
3. Tessalonia Ambrose of Hui Tama Nui

Age 14-17 Tane
1. JB Almogela of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
2. Anthony Petersen of Nemenzo
3. Jerrod Meneses of Manuia Polynesia

Age 18-21 Vahine
1. Jena Doiron of Heali'is Polynesian Revue
2. Fa'anofo Laupepa of Nonosina
3. Christina Wood of Nemenzo

Age 18-21 Tane
1. Jordan Lilii of Nonosina
2. Ryan Samn of Nemenzo
3. Scott Arpen of Varua Hae

Age 22-25 Vahine
1. Heali'i O Nalani Stanley of Heali'is Polynesian Revue
2. Shanna Pineda of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
3. Lizzy Gutierrez of Manea Dancers

Age 22-25 Tane
1. Glenn Salonga of Manuia Polynesia
2. Sonny Shwe of Nemenzo
3. John Depala of Varua Hae

Age 26-30 Vahine
1. Evlyn Bustamante of Da Island Way
2. Colie Amen of Mata'i Rea
3. Desiree Woodward-Lee of Nemenzo

Age 31-35 Vahine
1. Saua Case of Lei Isa
2. Maok Sako of Le Polynesia
3. Tania Riss of Manuia Polynesia

Age 31-35 Tane
1. Dean Silvestre of Lei Isa

Age 36+ Vahine
1. Sheila Keikilani of Le Polynesia
2. Leandra Thompson of Nemenzo
3. Michelle Swanson of Puahi's Polynesian Dancers

Overall Vahine
Evlyn Bustamante of Da Island Way

Overall Tane
Glenn Salonga of Manuia Polynesia


Group Awards

Ote'a
1. Nemenzo
2. Manuia Polynesia
3. Le Polynesia

Aparima
1. Manuia Polynesia
2. Nemenzo
3. Le Polynesia

Orero
Le Polynesia

Best Ra'atira
Le Polynesia

Best Costume
Manuia Polynesia

Overall Group
Manuia Polynesia

Music
1. Te Mana O Te Ra
2. Manuia Polynesia
3. Te Pura O Te Rahura'a

Drumming
1. Nemenzo
2. Le Polynesia
3. Manuia Polynesia

Ahupurotu
1. Te Mana O Te Ra
2. Manuia Polynesia
3. Te Pura O Te Rahura'a

Tamari'i Ote'a
1. Le Polynesia
2. Manuia Polynesia

Tamari'i Aparima
1. Le Polynesia

Tamari'i Ahupurotu
1. Le Polynesia
2. Kaleo O'Nalani

Tahitian dance boot camp

It’s time to kick the cookies to the curb and sign up for Mehetia Production’s 14-day Tahitian Dance Boot Camp, which uses fast-paced, high-energy Tahitian dance moves to shake you into serious shape...

But be forewarned: this boot camp isn’t the wimpy, air-conditioned version you see at the gym. Held at Kualoa Beach Park, and led by professional Polynesian hula dancer and choreographer Charelle Silva, these sessions include four hours a day of intense, heart-pounding, hip-gyrating, sweat-inducing workouts.

More of the story at Lei Chic

Kona Heiva postponed to 2010

According to the Kona Heiva website, due to funding issues, the Kona Heiva will be postponed to August 2010. Originally scheduled for August 2009, the event was to be the first annual event for the Kona area. Interested parties should contact Carol Casil for information.

Heiva i Tahiti 2009

Heiva i Tahiti 2009 is quickly coming up on the Tahitian dance calendar. Event preparations are well under way and a tentative schedule has also been released. The Heiva Nui organization is producing this years events and is led by Julien Mai. On Friday, July 10, the opening ceremony will take place at Place To'ata. Competition will continue on Saturday the 11th, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday, July 18th.

This year will see a return of familiar groups including Temaeva (Fabien Dinard and Coco Hotahota), Tamariki Oparo (Pierrot Faraire), O Tahiti E (Marguerite Lai) and Tamariki Poerani (Makau Foster), and Hei Tahiti (Tiare Trompette).

Activities were recently announced by newly appointed Minister of Culture, Jean-Marius Raapoto.

This year will also feature a competition where international dance groups from the US and Japan will also compete - Te Fareireiraa. The competition will take place from Monday July 20-Wednesday July 22 at Place To'ata.

Awards ceremonies will take place on Thursday July 23. Encore winning performances will take place on Friday and Saturday.

Major dance groups return for 127th Heiva i Tahiti

The 127th Heiva i Tahiti or Tahiti Festival will be held from July 10 to July 18. This year some of the most prestigious Tahitian dance groups will return for the festival.

Minister of Culture Jean-Marius Raapoto said the Heiva i Tahiti celebrations are important both for Tahitians and visitors.

More at Tahiti Presse

Tarena Tahiti 2010 results

Tarena Tahiti 2010 was highlighted with entries from 13 dance groups. Activities took place at the San Francisco State University Gym on Saturday, April 18, 2009. The event features a costume and solo dance competition. Costumes are required to be made of natural materials where creativity and authenticity are judged by 3 of the Tahitian dance community's most respected members - Roiti Sylva, dance master and Tahitian cultural advisor, Remy Tekurio director of Tekurio Nui and Tiana Liufau, director of Nonosina of Anaheim, California.

Unique to this event is the tie-in to a calendar production. Each of the placing soloists will be featured on a 2010 calendar. Three calendars will be produced, one for the Tamari'i division, Junior and Adult divisions as well, and will be available later this year to purchase. The covers will feature the top dancer in each division.

The Tane and Vahine Overall Winners, Anthony Santa-Iglesia of Manuia Polynesia and Colie Amen of Tamari’i Mata’irea won roundtrip tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii. Event producer Elizabeth Nemenzo Bertumen announced that the two dancers will be representing Tarena Tahiti, San Francisco at the first Tarena Tahiti 2011, Honolulu next year, earmarked in August 2010.

Here are the Tarena Tahiti 2010 results:

Overall Tane
Anthony Santa-Iglesia of Manuia Polynesia

Overall Vahine
Colie Amen of Tamari'i Mata'irea

Best Tane Costume
Anthony Santa-Iglesia of Manuia Polynesia

Best Vahine Costume
Angelica Ambrose of Hui Tama Nui

Tamarii Division - Vahine
1. Melanie-Marie Amen (Cover) of Tamari'i Mata'irea
2. Julia Chan of Nemenzo
3. Kiana Mabry of Hui O' Hawaii of Sacramento
4. Azaiah Edpao of Tiare O Te Ao
5. Ariel Zipagan of Nemenzo
6. Alyssa Petersen of Nemenzo
7. Abby Manalac of Nemenzo
8. Jorden Chaban of Manuia Polynesia
9. Cara Mia Kricken - Independent
10. Tia Samn of Nemenzo
11. Chelsea Sahami of Nemenzo
12. Shi-Lin Montes of Manuia Polynesia

Tamarii Division - Tane
1. Jonacy Montero of Nemenzo
2. Matthew Berrios of Hui Tama Nui
3. Kobe Johnson-Dulay of Nemenzo
4. Nikko Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia

Junior Division - Vahine
1. Heiti Schofield (Cover) of Teoraroa Otea
2. Chelsea Tanaka of Teoraroa Otea
3. Tessa Satele-Ambrose of Hui Tama Nui
4. Melanee Tano of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
5. Serena Dailey-Tumakay of Nemenzo
6. Katelyn Salvador of Teoraroa Otea
7. Cayla Steen of Varua Hae
8. Kayla Fontanilla of Nemenzo
9. Amanda Kamai of Tamali'i
10. Stephanie Sperry of Varua Hae
11. Monique Somera of Tiare O Te Ao
12. Bernadette Tuazon of Nemenzo

Junior Division - Tane
1. Jerrod Meneses of Manuia Polynesia
2. Lorenzo Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
3. Shawn Ballard of Merahi O Tehani

Adult Division - Vahine
1. Colie Amen (Cover) of Tamari'i Mata'irea
2. Angelica Ambrose of Hui Tama Nui
3. Desiree Woodward-Lee of Nemenzo
4. Jansine Joy Green of Manuia Polynesia
5. Chanel Calipes of Nemenzo
6. Sarah Niualiku of Tiare O Te Ao
7. Leialoha Hutchinson of Varua Hae
8. Tanisha Reshke of Hui O' Hawaii of Sacramento
9. Marika D'bayan of Varua Hae
10. Louise Gomez of Varua Hae
11. Selina Vakalahi of Tamali'i
12. Crystal Zapata of Nemenzo

Adult Division - Tane
1. Anthony Santa-Iglesia of Manuia Polynesia
2. Ryan Samn of Nemenzo
3. Joshua Mercado of Varua Hae
4. John De Pala of Varua Hae
5. Charles Cuadro of Varua Hae
6. Dean Sormillion of Varua Hae

Tarena Tahiti summary

A letter from Elizabeth Nemenzo Bertumen,
producer of Tarena Tahiti

This year’s Tarena Tahiti 2010 Costume and Solo Competition held at San Francisco State University Gym had a buzz of excitement with entries from 13 groups. The pageantry of the Parade of Costumes varied from simple dramatic designs to elaborate intricate masterpieces, all made of natural materials. Entries were as young as 6 yrs to adult. The Ori Tahiti (Solo) portion energized the entire event.

The collaboration of Nemenzo and Tamari’i Mata’irea as Tarena house drummers provided the soloists a variety of beats to dance to. Judging was not an easy feat. This responsibility fell on our 3 judges; Roiti Sylva, dance master and Tahitian cultural advisor, Remy Tekurio director of Tekurio Nui and Tiana Liufau, director of Nonosina of Anaheim, California.

Complimenting the festivities were local artisans and vendors from Las Vegas and Hawaii. The Tane and Vahine Overall Winners, Anthony Santa-Iglesia of Manuia Polyneisa and Colie Amen of Tamari’i Mata’irea won roundtrip tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii to enter representing Tarena Tahiti, San Francisco at the first Tarena Tahiti 2011, Honolulu next year, earmarked in August 2010. It would not of been complete without the talents and participation from the following groups:

Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, California
Makamae Melia ‘O Polynesia of Sacramento, California
Hui O Hawaii of Sacramento, California
Merahi O Tehani of Union City, California
Varua Hae of Bellflower, California
Nemenzo of San Francisco/Daly City, California
Manuia Polynesia of Daly City, California
Anapa Nui of Lodi, California
Tamarii Mata’irea of Stockton, California
Te Oraroa Otea of Hayward, California
Tiare O Te Ao of Hercules, California
Tamalii of Hayward, California
Kawailehua Hula Ohana of Milpitas, California