Candid shots of Te Mana O Te Ra

Getting a group ready for a performance in a Heiva, Tahiti Fete or any number of Tahitian dance events is a job in its own right. Take for example bringing Te Mana O Te Ra, a large dance group from Walnut Creek, California and bringing them to Hawaii to compete in the Heiva i Honolulu 2009. The event took place last month from March 12-14. Group leaders Lisa and Rey Aguilar had the daunting task of coordinating hotel, airlines, ground transportation, food, and practices, not to mention coming up with a presentation, choreography, music, drumming and costumes.

This candid photo gallery brings some of those "backstage" elements to light. It also tells the story of an established group that puts in long hours and hard work. In the end you can see how rewarding it is to be a part of an organization such as Te Mana O Te Ra. Whether behind the scenes or out there on center stage, each member of the group strengthens the performance.

In the end, Te Mana O Te Ra not only walked away with an unforgettable experience, they also brought back with them several awards including the overall vahine soloist (Charity Offril) and the senior group Ahupurotu 1st place award. We're looking forward to more great performances.

Lastly, we have to add that we were pleasantly surprised to see our own Tehani pareo fabric, which is designed and printed by Black Pearl Designs, used in their group performance. The long black dresses featured just enough of our poehere blue to make the costume stand out. You can see the fitted costume in many of the gallery photos. Take a look and see for yourself.