This is part 4 of a 5 part series delving into the origins of the modern version of Tahitian dance.
By Eric Ka’ahele Morales
The ‘Ahuroa
In constructing the ‘ahuroa, Roiti and Tavana worked together to create a more formal looking dance that, as Roiti states, was simply “another excellent number for the show.” Using the ‘aparima himene as a guide, they decided on a number of specifications that their version of the dance would follow. First off, only female dancers would participate, and these dancers were then each given a long, elegant dress that was form fitted, with sleeves, and ruffles.
In terms of music, it differed in a few distinct aspects. First and foremost, the dance was performed with a slower tempo. By reducing the tempo of the music, the ‘ahuroa looked similar to the hula ‘auana (modern hula). Aware of this correlation, they decided that the Tahitian song used be done to a waltz time as an added means of differentiating the two styles. Otherwise, the manner of gesturing, the type of the lyrics of the song, and the content that usually appeared in an ‘aparima hīmene were the same. According to Roiti, because of this, the learning of the actual dance was relatively simple: “By the time we started the show, we just learned the number.”
The original innovations introduced to the ‘aparima hīmene to make it the ‘ahuroa were then: the exclusion of men, costuming, a slower tempo, and a waltz.
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Showing posts with label merced kiki raina tahiti fete. Show all posts
Showing posts with label merced kiki raina tahiti fete. Show all posts
Monday, March 18, 2013
Saturday, December 29, 2012
‘Ahuroa: Dancing a Legacy - The ‘Aparima
This is part 3 of a 5 part series delving into the origins of the modern version of Tahitian dance.
By Eric Ka’ahele Morales
The ‘Aparima
As stated earlier, the dance Tavana and Roiti created, the ‘ahuroa, was rooted within the dance form, the ‘aparima. Translated, ‘aparima means “movement of the hand,” with apa meaning “movement” and rima meaning “hand or arm.” Whereas in other Tahitian dance forms the hands are more ornamental, in the ‘aparima, the hands serve as a means of conveying a narrative and is the only one that is always meant to pantomime an actual story.
The two categories of ‘aparima are the ‘aparima vāvā and the ‘aparima hīmene. Male and females may dance both types of the ‘aparima. The costuming is flexible and can vary from a pāreu tied around the waist with a coconut bra or a separate cloth covering the chest of female dancers. Male dancers can leave their chest bare or adorn it with leis. More skirts and headdresses can be used by either sex. Gestures used in the dance are either descriptive, symbolic, or ornamental. An example of a descriptive gesture would be if the song were to reference sleep, the dancer may place both their open palms together on one side of their tilted head to mime the act of sleeping. A common symbolic gesture is putting one’s closed fists on the hips to mark the beginning or the end of the ‘aparima.
The Tahitian word, vāvā, means mute, thus the ‘aparima vāvā is largely a pantomime, as neither the dancers nor the musicians provide any lyrical accompaniment. For the most part, it is performed in a kneeling position, with dancers acting out stories, mainly being pulled from the daily life of the islands and lasting under a minute. The music is secondary to the dance, used to accentuate and coordinate the gestures of the dancers, and the instruments used are primarily the pahu (base drum) and the tō’ere (slit-log drum), with the vivo (Tahitian nose flute) occasionally making an appearance.
Hīmene, by contrast, is derived from the English word, hymn. The ‘aparima hīmene is thus reliant on a sung narrative to tell a story and is considerably longer in length than the ‘aparima vāvā. In it, dancers pair mainly symbolic movements to correspond with the lyrics. The songs used can come from the existing Tahitian folk song repertoire or be the original creation of the group director. In some cases, the group director may take an existing folk song and restructure the music or lyrics to fit their artistic desires. Folk songs that have already been affected by popular music genres or that have been fused with Western musical influences are also still viable options for the ‘aparima hīmene. These outside influences are especially significant in the instrumental accompaniment, which usually includes stringed instruments, such as the guitar or the ukulele, along with the use of drums or the vivo. Content wise, the song chosen for the ‘aparima hīmene is characterized by its focus on describing the abstract, such as emotions and thoughts towards other people, places, or objects. ‘Aparima hīmene can be based on a story that reflects childhood memories with a loved member of the community or they can be about the simple joys of one’s homeland.
Inherent in both types of the ‘aparima is flexibility, in costuming, music, and even choreography. In fact, many of the gestures are not fixed, and numerous interpretations of songs can be used that incorporate a wide range of gestures. Also, the choreography of dances can easily be adjusted; for instance, performances where the dances are standing can easily be altered to take place in a sitting position.
By Eric Ka’ahele Morales
The ‘Aparima
As stated earlier, the dance Tavana and Roiti created, the ‘ahuroa, was rooted within the dance form, the ‘aparima. Translated, ‘aparima means “movement of the hand,” with apa meaning “movement” and rima meaning “hand or arm.” Whereas in other Tahitian dance forms the hands are more ornamental, in the ‘aparima, the hands serve as a means of conveying a narrative and is the only one that is always meant to pantomime an actual story.
The two categories of ‘aparima are the ‘aparima vāvā and the ‘aparima hīmene. Male and females may dance both types of the ‘aparima. The costuming is flexible and can vary from a pāreu tied around the waist with a coconut bra or a separate cloth covering the chest of female dancers. Male dancers can leave their chest bare or adorn it with leis. More skirts and headdresses can be used by either sex. Gestures used in the dance are either descriptive, symbolic, or ornamental. An example of a descriptive gesture would be if the song were to reference sleep, the dancer may place both their open palms together on one side of their tilted head to mime the act of sleeping. A common symbolic gesture is putting one’s closed fists on the hips to mark the beginning or the end of the ‘aparima.
The Tahitian word, vāvā, means mute, thus the ‘aparima vāvā is largely a pantomime, as neither the dancers nor the musicians provide any lyrical accompaniment. For the most part, it is performed in a kneeling position, with dancers acting out stories, mainly being pulled from the daily life of the islands and lasting under a minute. The music is secondary to the dance, used to accentuate and coordinate the gestures of the dancers, and the instruments used are primarily the pahu (base drum) and the tō’ere (slit-log drum), with the vivo (Tahitian nose flute) occasionally making an appearance.
Hīmene, by contrast, is derived from the English word, hymn. The ‘aparima hīmene is thus reliant on a sung narrative to tell a story and is considerably longer in length than the ‘aparima vāvā. In it, dancers pair mainly symbolic movements to correspond with the lyrics. The songs used can come from the existing Tahitian folk song repertoire or be the original creation of the group director. In some cases, the group director may take an existing folk song and restructure the music or lyrics to fit their artistic desires. Folk songs that have already been affected by popular music genres or that have been fused with Western musical influences are also still viable options for the ‘aparima hīmene. These outside influences are especially significant in the instrumental accompaniment, which usually includes stringed instruments, such as the guitar or the ukulele, along with the use of drums or the vivo. Content wise, the song chosen for the ‘aparima hīmene is characterized by its focus on describing the abstract, such as emotions and thoughts towards other people, places, or objects. ‘Aparima hīmene can be based on a story that reflects childhood memories with a loved member of the community or they can be about the simple joys of one’s homeland.
Inherent in both types of the ‘aparima is flexibility, in costuming, music, and even choreography. In fact, many of the gestures are not fixed, and numerous interpretations of songs can be used that incorporate a wide range of gestures. Also, the choreography of dances can easily be adjusted; for instance, performances where the dances are standing can easily be altered to take place in a sitting position.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
‘Ahuroa: Dancing a Legacy - Tahiti to Hawaii
This is part 2 of a 5 part series delving into the origins of the modern version of Tahitian dance.
By Eric Ka’ahele Morales
Tahiti to Hawaii
The creation of the ‘ahuroa occurred shortly after the revival of Tahitian dance, which had been largely suppressed by the work of European missionaries. It was in 1956 that Madeleine Mou’a’s dance group, Heiva, gained recognition for being the first professional troupe to take Tahitian dance out of the place of shame imposed upon it by the church, restoring a sense of pride in the native dance form. Mou’a was a school principal and actively recruited students to join her group. Soon, a slew of performers were taking up the dance. Many of these people began leaving Tahiti to perform in other venues. Roiti Tahauri Sylva, one of Mou’a’s students, was among these performers, heading off to Hawaii in 1959.
The 1950s and 1960s brought about overwhelming change to the cultural landscape of Hawaii. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state in the United States of America, leading to an increase in the urban development of the islands, specifically in Waikiki, Oahu, which quickly became a center of tourism. At the core of the growing tourism market, in the heart of Waikiki existed Queen’s Surf Restaurant and Nightclub featuring Tavana’s Polynesia, which was a nightly show consisting of dances from Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand, and Tonga.
Tavana Hare Salmon, a native Tahitian who grew up in Hawaii, was the show coordinator. He and his family scouted the islands for performers who had talent suitable for the productions, always attempting to engineer the next big show. Each night, ten to twelve dance numbers were used to provide an hour of entertainment for the spectators. Believing that the current show repertoire consisted of too many fast and up-tempo beats, Tavana decided to incorporate a slower, more formal number. Working in conjunction with Roiti Tahauri Sylva, they both helped to create the first ‘ahuroa performance. He provided ideas, a stage for artistic freedom, an audience, and additional performers; she provided her talent and skill, choreographing the first actual dance. In this venue, the two were able to present their traditions to a new audience any way they pleased.
By Eric Ka’ahele Morales
Tahiti to Hawaii
The creation of the ‘ahuroa occurred shortly after the revival of Tahitian dance, which had been largely suppressed by the work of European missionaries. It was in 1956 that Madeleine Mou’a’s dance group, Heiva, gained recognition for being the first professional troupe to take Tahitian dance out of the place of shame imposed upon it by the church, restoring a sense of pride in the native dance form. Mou’a was a school principal and actively recruited students to join her group. Soon, a slew of performers were taking up the dance. Many of these people began leaving Tahiti to perform in other venues. Roiti Tahauri Sylva, one of Mou’a’s students, was among these performers, heading off to Hawaii in 1959.
The 1950s and 1960s brought about overwhelming change to the cultural landscape of Hawaii. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state in the United States of America, leading to an increase in the urban development of the islands, specifically in Waikiki, Oahu, which quickly became a center of tourism. At the core of the growing tourism market, in the heart of Waikiki existed Queen’s Surf Restaurant and Nightclub featuring Tavana’s Polynesia, which was a nightly show consisting of dances from Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand, and Tonga.Tavana Hare Salmon, a native Tahitian who grew up in Hawaii, was the show coordinator. He and his family scouted the islands for performers who had talent suitable for the productions, always attempting to engineer the next big show. Each night, ten to twelve dance numbers were used to provide an hour of entertainment for the spectators. Believing that the current show repertoire consisted of too many fast and up-tempo beats, Tavana decided to incorporate a slower, more formal number. Working in conjunction with Roiti Tahauri Sylva, they both helped to create the first ‘ahuroa performance. He provided ideas, a stage for artistic freedom, an audience, and additional performers; she provided her talent and skill, choreographing the first actual dance. In this venue, the two were able to present their traditions to a new audience any way they pleased.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
‘Ahuroa: Dancing a Legacy - The Show
Have you ever wondered where and how we have the modern version of Tahitian dance? How about where the names came from, the rules, the styles, and/or even how it made its way outside of Tahiti? This original five part series dives into these questions and more. Below is part 1 of 5 by guest author Eric Ka'ahele Morales, one of the organizers of the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete, the longest running Tahitian Heiva outside of Tahiti. He, along with executive producer Rebecca Manandic and others make the Merced, California event a premier Tahitian dance annual event each March.
By Eric Ka’ahele Morales
The Show
It was an idea for a new take on an old dance, traditional, innovational, show stopping. The year was 1967, and Roiti Tahauri Sylva, a Tahitian immigrant to Hawaii, was on stage at the Queen’s Surf in Honolulu. She had a group of performers with her, all of them wearing long, elegant dresses with fitted sleeves and ruffles, tropical flowers adorning the fabric. They were to dance in front of a large audience: tourists, locals, complete with journalists. The dance was to consist of a slow ‘aparima, done in waltz time, to the song, Tau Tamaiti Here. But before they could go on stage, Roiti was asked a simple question by the master of ceremony and co-creator of the dance, Tavana Hare Salmon: “What is the name of this dance?” After a seconds pause, she answered, “‘Ahuroa.”
On the second show that night, Roiti reconsidered her choice in the name and called it an ‘ahu’purotu. Both names have since gained a certain resonance. The word, ahu, refers to any cloth or garment, and roa has numerous definitions, but in this context, it pertains to one complete piece of an object, long in length. The word, purotu, translates into beautiful. Each name then references the dress the dancers wear: ‘ahuroa is a single piece, long dress; ‘ahu’purotu is a beautiful dress. Both names continue to be used today, usually interchangeably.
Meant to be performed for only that weekend, the ‘ahuroa took on a life of its own. The dance was such a success that dancers in the group as well as dancers in the audience started copying the specifics of this new style and performing them in other nearby venues, sometimes calling it an ‘ahuroa, other times an ‘ahu’purotu, or simply referring to it as a slow or formal ‘aparima, which is considered one of the four recorded surviving forms of Tahitian dance: the others being the ‘ōte‘a, hivinau, and pā‘ō‘ā.
By Eric Ka’ahele Morales
“It’s a legacy. Something we are leaving behind … I didn’t realize it would be very popular” – Roiti Tahauri Sylva.
The Show
It was an idea for a new take on an old dance, traditional, innovational, show stopping. The year was 1967, and Roiti Tahauri Sylva, a Tahitian immigrant to Hawaii, was on stage at the Queen’s Surf in Honolulu. She had a group of performers with her, all of them wearing long, elegant dresses with fitted sleeves and ruffles, tropical flowers adorning the fabric. They were to dance in front of a large audience: tourists, locals, complete with journalists. The dance was to consist of a slow ‘aparima, done in waltz time, to the song, Tau Tamaiti Here. But before they could go on stage, Roiti was asked a simple question by the master of ceremony and co-creator of the dance, Tavana Hare Salmon: “What is the name of this dance?” After a seconds pause, she answered, “‘Ahuroa.”
 |
| Roiti Sylva performing the 'Ahuroa at the Queen's Surf |
Meant to be performed for only that weekend, the ‘ahuroa took on a life of its own. The dance was such a success that dancers in the group as well as dancers in the audience started copying the specifics of this new style and performing them in other nearby venues, sometimes calling it an ‘ahuroa, other times an ‘ahu’purotu, or simply referring to it as a slow or formal ‘aparima, which is considered one of the four recorded surviving forms of Tahitian dance: the others being the ‘ōte‘a, hivinau, and pā‘ō‘ā.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Heiva calendar updates for 2012
It's been a few months since we've posted any updates on the blog but we were a little busy trying to get our new Tahitian dance database up and running. It's almost there for Phase I and it has updated group information as much as we have been able to gather. We are specifically looking for dance groups that dance Tahitian. In the future we may expand, but for now, we are staying focused on Tahiti.
Along with the dance group directory, we have the Tahitian Heiva events calendar. As with everything on the new site, things are in a work in progress. We are working to make it more accessible for dance group leaders and event producers. In addition, we are working on a new awards area. It will be searchable and clickable to allow for multiple ways of accessing the information.
So if you are looking for a calendar of events for next year, look no further, we are continually working with event producers and have the most up-to-date information available. Check back often for updates or sign up for updates via Twitter, Facebook or RSS feed.
Events that have updated 2012 dates include Heiva i Honolulu, Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete , Hura Tahiti, Tahiti Fete of San Jose, Heiva i Kauai, Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas and Ori Tahiti Las Vegas, to name a few.
More to come on our new website for Tahitian dance.
Oh, by the way... it's
www.ipolynesia.com
Check it out and look for more information about its official debut coming soon.
Along with the dance group directory, we have the Tahitian Heiva events calendar. As with everything on the new site, things are in a work in progress. We are working to make it more accessible for dance group leaders and event producers. In addition, we are working on a new awards area. It will be searchable and clickable to allow for multiple ways of accessing the information.
So if you are looking for a calendar of events for next year, look no further, we are continually working with event producers and have the most up-to-date information available. Check back often for updates or sign up for updates via Twitter, Facebook or RSS feed.
Events that have updated 2012 dates include Heiva i Honolulu, Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete , Hura Tahiti, Tahiti Fete of San Jose, Heiva i Kauai, Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas and Ori Tahiti Las Vegas, to name a few.
More to come on our new website for Tahitian dance.
Oh, by the way... it's
www.ipolynesia.com
Check it out and look for more information about its official debut coming soon.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Tahitian Drums hit the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Two brothers, Aaron and Andrew Llavore, who have partnered to create a new company named Love4Apps, have come up with the first app to tackle the needs of the Tahitian drumming crowd. Tahitian Drums
We're always on the lookout for Polynesian activity on the internet and in the world around us, and more specifically Tahitian activity. A few weeks ago we got an alert via our Facebook page of a new iPhone app that featured Tahitian drumming. We bought it, started playing with it and found that we were in dire need of brushing up on our Tahitian drumming thumb skills. Nevertheless we found it so intriguing that we knew we had to share it with our readers. If you find yourself in the doctors office waiting and waiting... and waiting, or between breaks at work or school, and you are find yourself without your to'ere, this is the app for you.
The Tahitian Drums app (available now on the iTunes store, among the other Apple branded online store outlets) is only $.99 and is a bargain at that. It features 5 distinct to'ere (hollowed out hardwood drum) sample beats and 1 pahu (traditional low key bass) beat. Just pick a comfortable spot to sit down and select the app and you're set. Using both thumbs is recommended. One for the bass and 1 for the toere. The different tones are determined by where you hit the to'ere just as a real toere would typically sound if it was hit in the same area. You can visually see when and where you tap and you can tap both to'ere and pahu at the same time so it realistically portrays what a drummer would do when using both instruments in concert.
Aaron handles the artistic side of the application. He created the layouts, illustrations and handled the audio recording of the instruments as well. His brother Andrew has handled all the technical aspects of designing the app to work on the various platforms, programming and encoding.
We caught up with Aaron recently and had a nice Q&A session with him about his exciting new foray into bringing Tahitian drumming to a whole new world.
First of all, great app and initiative bringing Tahitian drumming to a tech savvy crowd. We're equally excited to just learn that the next update 1.1 is just days away as well.
BPD: Are either of you drummers or dancers yourselves? If so, what group?
Aaron: Yes, I've been a musician/drummer for Kawailehua, based out of San Jose, California for roughly 10 years now. Our group is an active participant in the annual Tahiti Fete of San Jose, as well as Heiva i Maui, and the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete in Merced.
BPD: What made you decide to make the app?
Aaron: As a fellow Tahitian drummer myself, I'm often itching to play the Tahitian drums and often times, I'm not around a to'ere and pahu (or it's too late in the evening to make a lot of noise). So, I thought the idea of being able to mimic playing the Tahitian drums on your phone would be fun! From my experience, being around other fellow drummers - Tahitian drummers eat, breath, and sleep playing the drums - as it is highly addicting! With this app we hope to offer something to the Polynesian dance community, whether you have any drumming/dancing experience or not. And for the general public, we hope its a new avenue to spread the love of Polynesian dance and music.
BPD: What are the main benefits that you see users getting out of the app?
Aaron: It's just plain fun to play around with!
BPD: Is there plans to have a fa'atete added?
Aaron: Not yet, but I think our next step in a future update would be to add a to'ere piti as well. Then you can get really creative with playing Tahitian beats.
BPD: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us and creating this fun and great new tool/instrument.
Aaron: Maru'uru. Glad to be able to share the culture with the iPhone audience.
If you find yourself a little timid or find you need a little inspiration, there will also be a convenient in-app link to the Tahitian Drums YouTube Channel that has a growing selection of demo videos and examples of basic beats that will be available soon. In addition, other new features in the 1.1 update will be including an iPad version, an updated look, and larger playing surfaces to make it easier to play.
And for those of you who haven't taken the leap to the iPhone, not to worry, work is already underway to port the app to Android phones as well. Looking forward to future updates. Sign up for updates on the site or Twitter. For more information about the app and to see some videos about it, visit the Love4Apps website.
We're always on the lookout for Polynesian activity on the internet and in the world around us, and more specifically Tahitian activity. A few weeks ago we got an alert via our Facebook page of a new iPhone app that featured Tahitian drumming. We bought it, started playing with it and found that we were in dire need of brushing up on our Tahitian drumming thumb skills. Nevertheless we found it so intriguing that we knew we had to share it with our readers. If you find yourself in the doctors office waiting and waiting... and waiting, or between breaks at work or school, and you are find yourself without your to'ere, this is the app for you.
Aaron handles the artistic side of the application. He created the layouts, illustrations and handled the audio recording of the instruments as well. His brother Andrew has handled all the technical aspects of designing the app to work on the various platforms, programming and encoding.
We caught up with Aaron recently and had a nice Q&A session with him about his exciting new foray into bringing Tahitian drumming to a whole new world.
First of all, great app and initiative bringing Tahitian drumming to a tech savvy crowd. We're equally excited to just learn that the next update 1.1 is just days away as well.
BPD: Are either of you drummers or dancers yourselves? If so, what group?
Aaron: Yes, I've been a musician/drummer for Kawailehua, based out of San Jose, California for roughly 10 years now. Our group is an active participant in the annual Tahiti Fete of San Jose, as well as Heiva i Maui, and the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete in Merced.
Aaron: As a fellow Tahitian drummer myself, I'm often itching to play the Tahitian drums and often times, I'm not around a to'ere and pahu (or it's too late in the evening to make a lot of noise). So, I thought the idea of being able to mimic playing the Tahitian drums on your phone would be fun! From my experience, being around other fellow drummers - Tahitian drummers eat, breath, and sleep playing the drums - as it is highly addicting! With this app we hope to offer something to the Polynesian dance community, whether you have any drumming/dancing experience or not. And for the general public, we hope its a new avenue to spread the love of Polynesian dance and music.
BPD: What are the main benefits that you see users getting out of the app?
Aaron: It's just plain fun to play around with!
BPD: Is there plans to have a fa'atete added?
Aaron: Not yet, but I think our next step in a future update would be to add a to'ere piti as well. Then you can get really creative with playing Tahitian beats.
BPD: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us and creating this fun and great new tool/instrument.
Aaron: Maru'uru. Glad to be able to share the culture with the iPhone audience.
If you find yourself a little timid or find you need a little inspiration, there will also be a convenient in-app link to the Tahitian Drums YouTube Channel that has a growing selection of demo videos and examples of basic beats that will be available soon. In addition, other new features in the 1.1 update will be including an iPad version, an updated look, and larger playing surfaces to make it easier to play.
And for those of you who haven't taken the leap to the iPhone, not to worry, work is already underway to port the app to Android phones as well. Looking forward to future updates. Sign up for updates on the site or Twitter. For more information about the app and to see some videos about it, visit the Love4Apps website.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Get Ready for the 32nd Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
One of the key elements to the success of this event is the division of beginning and advanced dancers. "This enables advanced/professional performers to compete at a higher level and truly challenge their capabilities," states the history documents of the event. "At the same time this also allows the beginner/intermediate dancers to gain experience and be awarded for their progress." It remains the only event that has a beginner category.
Tickets are $15 each, Children (5-12) $11. Adult 3 Day Pass is $39 (Children $29). For more information, call Pacifica (209) 726-1925 (10am-6pm, M-F) or visit the event website at www.kikiraina.com
In addition to being a venue to showcase the visual art of Tahitian dance, music and costume, the printed program for the event highlights artwork and written compositions of Polynesian design. Be sure to pick up your copy. Feel free to submit your work. We'll be watching.
If you'd like to read more about the event, here is a history written by Eric "Ka'ahele" Morales, of how it all started.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
The 31st Annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete will be held at Merced County Fairgrounds on Friday March 26th, Saturday March 27th, and Sunday, March 28th 2010.Those who enjoy a rich experience in traditional culture and dance will be enthralled by Friday’s presentation of the Solo Dance Competition eliminations and Saturday’s finalist performances, ranging in ages of 4 thru adult, beginners thru professional, both men’s and women’s categories.
Friday’s event also includes the Maeva Merced Polynesian Pageant, where lovely ladies and handsome gentlemen compete for the prestigious title of Miss and Mr. Maeva Merced. During the pageant, the Ahuroa (more formal Aparima dance style) Competition will be judged, as well as the Masters solo category finals.
The Solo Dancer Finals will be held on Saturday as well as the Tamari’i (children) Groups and Group Drumming Competition, featuring the most accomplished Tahitian Drumming groups in our area.
On Sunday morning, First Place winners of the Professional Soloists will compete for the Overall Vahine and Tane “Best Dancer Awards”. Also, Couples in Costume will take the floor with their colorful regalia and exciting duets! The afternoon will wind up with the Amateur and Professional Groups demonstrating their proficiency in the marvelous ‘Ote’a drum dances and the lively Aparima of Tahiti Nui! The very best Island Style cusine will be available throughout the event as well as authentic flower and Polynesian Craft Booths for your shopping pleasure.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Rebecca Manandic named as Merced Christmas Parade Grand Marshall
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete producer Rebecca Manandic will be the Grand Marshall in this years Merced Christmas Parade.
More at the Merced Sun-Star
More at the Merced Sun-Star
Sunday, July 05, 2009
2009 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete results
The 2009 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete happened this past March but we just were able to update. Mauru'uru to Becky Mandanic and Eric Morales for the information and keeping us updated. Scheduled for next March will be the 31st Annual event happening from March 26-28, 2010. Watch for more information and updates as the date gets closer.
Soloist Awards
Miss Maeva
Sarah Niualiku of Tiare O Te Ao
Mr Maeva
Carlos Acosta of Te Mau Ta'ata Anuanua
Maeva Iti
Myshka Nichole Javier of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
Overall Junior Vahine
Lorie Anne Pamatmat of Da Island Way
Overall Senior Vahine
Colie Amen of Tamari'i Matairea
Overall Junior Tane
Trevor Tutera'I Manaois of Ote'a Api
Overall Senior Tane
Sonny Shwe of Nemenzo
Couples Tamure
Charlie Currameng and Crystal Nguyen of Ote'a Api
Age 10-12 Beginning Vahine
1. Toni Moreland of E Honu Iti E
2. Celine Moreland of Tamari'i Matairea
3. Kalina Ramos-Santiago of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
4. Isabel Flores of Tiare O Te Ao
Age 10-12 Beginning Tane
1. Harold Lopa of E Honu Iti E
2. Nikko Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Alfonzo Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Age 10-12 Advanced Vahine
1. Lorie Ann Pamartmat of Da Island Way
2. Jessica Briones of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
3. Caramia Kricken - Independent
Age 10-12 Advanced Tane
1. Arnel Boquiren of Here Hau
2. Jeremiah Quilantang of Tamari'i Matairea
3. Jason Wong of Ote'a Api
Age 13-15 Beginning Vahine
1. Kylie Rufino of Te Ora Roa
2. Sherlyn Gallo of E Honu Iti E
3. Erica Punahele Petrowsky of LeiIsa
4. Rhiannon Smith of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
Age 13-15 Beginning Tane
1. Lorenzo Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
2. Cory Jose of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
3. JP Corpuz of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
Age 13-15 Advanced Vahine
1. Katelyn Salvador of Te Ora Roa
2. Avangelina Balangit of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
3. Melanee Tano of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
4. Aolani Etu of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
Age 13-15 Advanced Tane
1. Trevor Tutera'I Manaois of Ote'a Api
2. Jojo Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
3. Xavier Guerrero of Tamari'i Matairea
Age 16-18 Beginning Vahine
1. Chelsea Hill of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Christina Wood of Nemenzo
3. Jacqueline Cortez of Te Ora Roa
4. Marianne Aumenlado of Te Poe O Patitifa
Age 16-18 Beginning Tane
1. Andrew Gallo of E Honu Iti E
2. Nick Figueira of E Honu Iti E
3. Julius Corpuz of Te Ora Roa
Age 16-18 Advanced Vahine
1. Heiti Schofield of Te Ora Roa
2. Juliette Manois of Ote'a Api
3. Kaleialohaonalani Tanaka of Te Ora Roa
4. Allyssa Hernandez of Ote'a Api
Age 16-18 Advanced Tane
1. Talton Pedregosa of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Duane De Jesus of Ote'a Api
3. Jerrod Menenses of Manuia Polynesia
Age 19-24 Beginning Vahine
1. Danielle Poquis of Ehulani's Ote'a
2. Maryanne Mayo of Nemenzo
3. Mary Grace Slador of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
4. Geraldine Masters of LeiIsa
Age 19-24 Beginning Tane
1. Brandon Evangelista of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Olin Petere Kaleo 'Okalani Caban of Te Ohipa Pa'ari O Haruru
3. Michale Devonia of Te Ora Roa
Age 19-24 Advanced Vahine
1. Michelle Tarleton of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
2. Natalie Flores of Te Ora Roa
3. Michelle Baker of Nemenzo
4. Abigail Ventura of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
Age 19-24 Advanced Tane
1. Sonny Shwe of Nemenzo
2. Glenn Salonga of Manuia Polynesia
3. Zack Reyas Del Sol of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Age 25-34 Beginning Vahine
1. Courtney Krupa of Da Island Way
2. Joyce Dagurnbey of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
3. Saua Case of LeiIsa
4. Athena Herrera of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Age 25-34 Advanced Vahine
1. Colie Amen of Tamari'i Matairea
2. Karen Alumno of Da Island Way
3. Shanna Pineda of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
Age 25-34 Advanced Tane
1. Charlie Cumrameneng of Ote'a Api
2. Dean Sivenstre of LeiIsa
Beginners Masters Vahine
1. Rose Pamatmat - Independent
2. Marilu Pho of Da Island Way
3. Corinne Brown of Da Island Way
Beginners Masters Tane
1. Don C Iose of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Jesse Coronado of Nani Ola Dance Co.
Advanced Masters Vahine
1. Katrina Hali'imaile DeJesus of Ote'a Api
2. Mia-Mae Salgado-Cummings of Te Tahi Here
3. Selby Vota-Hermales of Da Island Way
Advanced Masters Tane
1. Anthony Manaois of Ote'a Api
Group Awards
Ahuroa
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Here Hau of Crockett CA
3. Te Tahi Here
4. Tiare O Te Ao of Hercules CA
Tamari'i Aparima
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Ehulani's Ote'a of Hayward CA
3. Tiare O Te Ao of Hercules CA
Tamari'i Ote'a
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Ehulani's Ote'a of Hayward CA
3. Te Tahi Here
Amateur Group - Ote'a
1. Ehulani's Ote'a of Hayward CA
Professional Group - Ote'a
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
Novice Group - Ote'a
1. Nani Ola Dance Co.
Novice Group - Aparima
1. Nani Ola Dance Co.
Professional Group - Aparima
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
Beginning Drumming
1. Tamari'i Matairea of Stockton CA
2. Tiare O Te Ao of Hercules CA
Advanced Drumming
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Te Ohipa Pa'ari O Haruru
Soloist Awards
Miss Maeva
Sarah Niualiku of Tiare O Te Ao
Mr Maeva
Carlos Acosta of Te Mau Ta'ata Anuanua
Maeva Iti
Myshka Nichole Javier of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
Overall Junior Vahine
Lorie Anne Pamatmat of Da Island Way
Overall Senior Vahine
Colie Amen of Tamari'i Matairea
Overall Junior Tane
Trevor Tutera'I Manaois of Ote'a Api
Overall Senior Tane
Sonny Shwe of Nemenzo
Couples Tamure
Charlie Currameng and Crystal Nguyen of Ote'a Api
Age 10-12 Beginning Vahine
1. Toni Moreland of E Honu Iti E
2. Celine Moreland of Tamari'i Matairea
3. Kalina Ramos-Santiago of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
4. Isabel Flores of Tiare O Te Ao
Age 10-12 Beginning Tane
1. Harold Lopa of E Honu Iti E
2. Nikko Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Alfonzo Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Age 10-12 Advanced Vahine
1. Lorie Ann Pamartmat of Da Island Way
2. Jessica Briones of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
3. Caramia Kricken - Independent
Age 10-12 Advanced Tane
1. Arnel Boquiren of Here Hau
2. Jeremiah Quilantang of Tamari'i Matairea
3. Jason Wong of Ote'a Api
Age 13-15 Beginning Vahine
1. Kylie Rufino of Te Ora Roa
2. Sherlyn Gallo of E Honu Iti E
3. Erica Punahele Petrowsky of LeiIsa
4. Rhiannon Smith of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
Age 13-15 Beginning Tane
1. Lorenzo Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
2. Cory Jose of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
3. JP Corpuz of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
Age 13-15 Advanced Vahine
1. Katelyn Salvador of Te Ora Roa
2. Avangelina Balangit of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
3. Melanee Tano of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
4. Aolani Etu of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
Age 13-15 Advanced Tane
1. Trevor Tutera'I Manaois of Ote'a Api
2. Jojo Nunez of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
3. Xavier Guerrero of Tamari'i Matairea
Age 16-18 Beginning Vahine
1. Chelsea Hill of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Christina Wood of Nemenzo
3. Jacqueline Cortez of Te Ora Roa
4. Marianne Aumenlado of Te Poe O Patitifa
Age 16-18 Beginning Tane
1. Andrew Gallo of E Honu Iti E
2. Nick Figueira of E Honu Iti E
3. Julius Corpuz of Te Ora Roa
Age 16-18 Advanced Vahine
1. Heiti Schofield of Te Ora Roa
2. Juliette Manois of Ote'a Api
3. Kaleialohaonalani Tanaka of Te Ora Roa
4. Allyssa Hernandez of Ote'a Api
Age 16-18 Advanced Tane
1. Talton Pedregosa of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Duane De Jesus of Ote'a Api
3. Jerrod Menenses of Manuia Polynesia
Age 19-24 Beginning Vahine
1. Danielle Poquis of Ehulani's Ote'a
2. Maryanne Mayo of Nemenzo
3. Mary Grace Slador of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
4. Geraldine Masters of LeiIsa
Age 19-24 Beginning Tane
1. Brandon Evangelista of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Olin Petere Kaleo 'Okalani Caban of Te Ohipa Pa'ari O Haruru
3. Michale Devonia of Te Ora Roa
Age 19-24 Advanced Vahine
1. Michelle Tarleton of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
2. Natalie Flores of Te Ora Roa
3. Michelle Baker of Nemenzo
4. Abigail Ventura of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
Age 19-24 Advanced Tane
1. Sonny Shwe of Nemenzo
2. Glenn Salonga of Manuia Polynesia
3. Zack Reyas Del Sol of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Age 25-34 Beginning Vahine
1. Courtney Krupa of Da Island Way
2. Joyce Dagurnbey of Kawailehua Hula Ohana
3. Saua Case of LeiIsa
4. Athena Herrera of Makamae Melia O Polynesia
Age 25-34 Advanced Vahine
1. Colie Amen of Tamari'i Matairea
2. Karen Alumno of Da Island Way
3. Shanna Pineda of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
Age 25-34 Advanced Tane
1. Charlie Cumrameneng of Ote'a Api
2. Dean Sivenstre of LeiIsa
Beginners Masters Vahine
1. Rose Pamatmat - Independent
2. Marilu Pho of Da Island Way
3. Corinne Brown of Da Island Way
Beginners Masters Tane
1. Don C Iose of Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani
2. Jesse Coronado of Nani Ola Dance Co.
Advanced Masters Vahine
1. Katrina Hali'imaile DeJesus of Ote'a Api
2. Mia-Mae Salgado-Cummings of Te Tahi Here
3. Selby Vota-Hermales of Da Island Way
Advanced Masters Tane
1. Anthony Manaois of Ote'a Api
Group Awards
Ahuroa
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Here Hau of Crockett CA
3. Te Tahi Here
4. Tiare O Te Ao of Hercules CA
Tamari'i Aparima
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Ehulani's Ote'a of Hayward CA
3. Tiare O Te Ao of Hercules CA
Tamari'i Ote'a
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Ehulani's Ote'a of Hayward CA
3. Te Tahi Here
Amateur Group - Ote'a
1. Ehulani's Ote'a of Hayward CA
Professional Group - Ote'a
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
Novice Group - Ote'a
1. Nani Ola Dance Co.
Novice Group - Aparima
1. Nani Ola Dance Co.
Professional Group - Aparima
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
Beginning Drumming
1. Tamari'i Matairea of Stockton CA
2. Tiare O Te Ao of Hercules CA
Advanced Drumming
1. Ote'a Api of Fremont CA
2. Te Ohipa Pa'ari O Haruru
Saturday, March 28, 2009
City of Merced takes notice of Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
The Merced County Times will be doing an article on the 2009 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete in a couple days. Here's a link to their teaser with a picture of a couple of dancers taking a quick pict to remember their time there.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete schedule
Now celebrating it's 30th Anniversary, the 2009 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete is set to begin tomorrow. The three day event runs from March 27-29, 2009. Activities are located at the Merced County Fairgrounds. Tickets are:Adult: $15 Advance / $17 at door - Adult = age 13 and up
Child: $10 Advance / $12 At Door - Child = age 5-12
The event not only features Tahitian dance and pageantry, but is also featuring memories of the past years' events. A 30th anniversary commemorative program will be available for purchase. The Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete is the longest existing, annually held, Tahitian Dance and Cultural Festival outside of French Polynesia. The event is produced by Becky Manandic. Island Style food and Polynesian craft booths will be open throughout the event as well.
Here is the schedule for the 2009 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete. (Schedule is subject to change):
Friday, March 27th
8:00am Registration
9:00am Opening Ceremonies
Solo Eliminations with House Drummers (4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15)
12:30pm Lunch
1:30pm Competition continues (16-18, 19-24, 25-34, Masters)
6:00pm Miss and Mr. Maeva Merced Pageant, Masters Solo Finals and
Ahuroa Group Presentations
8:00pm Awards
Saturday, March 28th
8:00am Registration - Solo Finalists, Group Drummers
9:00am Solo Finals Begin (4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15)
12:00pm Lunch - Tamari'i exhibition
1:00pm Tamari'i Groups
1:30pm Drumming Group Competition followed by Solo Finals
(16-18, 19-24, 25-34)
6:00pm Awards
Sunday, March 29th
8:00am Registration - 1st Place Advanced Soloists, Couples in Costume, Tamari'i Groups, Amateur and Professional Groups
10:00am Opening Prayer, Jr. and Sr. Overall Vahine and Tane Soloist Competition
11:00am Couples in Costume Tamure
12:00pm Lunch - Line Dance and Salsa Demo
1:00pm Novice Groups
2:00pm Amateur Groups
3:30pm Professional Groups
5:00pm Awards
Updates and results will be available as soon as we receive them.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete - Literary/Artistic Submissions
Letter from the Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
Ia Ora Na,
Greetings everyone, with the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete underway we are looking for writers, artists, photographers, and poets to submit work for our event publication, which we have in recent years used as a way to publish work from the Polynesian community. Being published in this forum looks good on a university, grant, or fellowship application, and on query letters to other publishers. Our main goal, though, is to help nurture and display the creativity of the Polynesian spirit. It is our hope that this year, our 30th anniversary, we will have more submissions than ever before.
We encourage submissions spanning any genre, and there is no age range for contributors. Our only concern is that the work features Polynesia in some way. Attached to this e-mail are examples of works published in previous years. We have already begun soliciting submissions for this year, such as an essay from a graduate student of Art History entitled, "The Commodification of Aloha: How the Aloha Spirit is Sold to Tourists."
Please include with your submission your full name, personal picture (optional), halau association (if any) and your location. If you are submitting a photograph, include the location where you took the image. We are eager to receive work from our younger submitters, and we suggest you include your age, as it will be printed in the program, unless otherwise requested.
Deadline is March 10th, but please contact us as soon as possible of your intention to submit something so we can prepare space in the publication.
Maururu Roa,
Ka'ahele
(408) 627-9590
Ia Ora Na,Greetings everyone, with the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete underway we are looking for writers, artists, photographers, and poets to submit work for our event publication, which we have in recent years used as a way to publish work from the Polynesian community. Being published in this forum looks good on a university, grant, or fellowship application, and on query letters to other publishers. Our main goal, though, is to help nurture and display the creativity of the Polynesian spirit. It is our hope that this year, our 30th anniversary, we will have more submissions than ever before.
We encourage submissions spanning any genre, and there is no age range for contributors. Our only concern is that the work features Polynesia in some way. Attached to this e-mail are examples of works published in previous years. We have already begun soliciting submissions for this year, such as an essay from a graduate student of Art History entitled, "The Commodification of Aloha: How the Aloha Spirit is Sold to Tourists."
Please include with your submission your full name, personal picture (optional), halau association (if any) and your location. If you are submitting a photograph, include the location where you took the image. We are eager to receive work from our younger submitters, and we suggest you include your age, as it will be printed in the program, unless otherwise requested.
Deadline is March 10th, but please contact us as soon as possible of your intention to submit something so we can prepare space in the publication.
Maururu Roa,
Ka'ahele
(408) 627-9590
Pictures for the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
Letter from Becky Manandic, producer of the Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
Ia Ora Na,
As you know, our 30th Anniversary Fete is upon us. For a change of pace, this year we would like all of the pictures in our annual event publication to feature dancers and fetes from the past 29 years that we've been running. So we are asking everyone to go through their photo albums and e-mail us their favorite photos of themselves and friends for possible inclusion in the program.
E-mail all pictures to Ka'ahele at kikirainaprogram@gmail.com. We encourage people to start sending in photos now, as Ka'ahele is juggling his work with the program and graduate school so available time is a factor. If by any chance you cannot send your photo as an e-mail attachment and wish to use traditional mail, feel free to contact Ka'ahele at (408) 627-9590 for further arrangements.
If you are a Halau director, please forward this e-mail to your group.
Please include the year of the fete and names of the people in the photo, as both of these details will be included in the program.
Maururu Roa, Aunty Becky
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
Ia Ora Na,
As you know, our 30th Anniversary Fete is upon us. For a change of pace, this year we would like all of the pictures in our annual event publication to feature dancers and fetes from the past 29 years that we've been running. So we are asking everyone to go through their photo albums and e-mail us their favorite photos of themselves and friends for possible inclusion in the program.
E-mail all pictures to Ka'ahele at kikirainaprogram@gmail.com. We encourage people to start sending in photos now, as Ka'ahele is juggling his work with the program and graduate school so available time is a factor. If by any chance you cannot send your photo as an e-mail attachment and wish to use traditional mail, feel free to contact Ka'ahele at (408) 627-9590 for further arrangements.
If you are a Halau director, please forward this e-mail to your group.
Please include the year of the fete and names of the people in the photo, as both of these details will be included in the program.
Maururu Roa, Aunty Becky
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
Friday, February 06, 2009
30th Anniversary Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
The 30th Anniversary Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete will be held at the Merced County Fairgrounds. The longest existing, annually held, Tahitian Dance and Cultural Festival outside of French Polynesia will be on Friday, March 27th from 9am – 9pm, Saturday the 28th, from 9am – 9pm and on Sunday the 29th from 9am – 6pm.
Those who enjoy a rich experience in traditional culture and dance will be enthralled by Friday’s presentation of the Solo Dance Competition eliminations and Saturday’s finalist performances, ranging in ages of 4 through adult, beginners thru professional, both men’s and women’s categories. Friday’s event also includes the Maeva Merced Polynesian Pageant, where lovely ladies and handsome gentlemen compete for the prestigious title of Miss and Mr. Maeva Merced. During the pageant, the Ahuroa (more formal Aparima dance style) Competition will be judged, as well as the Masters solo category finals.
The Solo Dancer Finals will be held on Saturday as well as the Tamari’i (children) Groups and Group Drumming Competition, featuring the most accomplished Tahitian Drumming groups in our area.
On Sunday morning, First Place winners of the Professional Soloists will compete for the Overall Vahine and Tane “Best Dancer Awards”. Also, Couples in Costume will take the floor with their colorful regalia and exciting duets! The afternoon will wind up with the Amateur and Professional Groups demonstrating their proficiency in the marvelous ‘Ote’a drum dances and the lively Aparima of Tahiti Nui!
The very best Island Style FOOD will be available throughout the event as well as authentic flower and Polynesian Craft Booths for your shopping pleasure.
TICKET INFORMATION ! ! !
www.kikiraina.com
Age 13 thru Adult - $15 advanced sale $17 at the door
Child age 5 thru 12yrs - $10 advanced sale $12 at the door
3day pass, advanced sale only adult $36, Child $27
For more information, Call Pacifica at 209 726-1925 between 10am and 6pm, Mon thru Sat. Advance sale tickets may be purchased through March 25th. Tickets are limited.
Those who enjoy a rich experience in traditional culture and dance will be enthralled by Friday’s presentation of the Solo Dance Competition eliminations and Saturday’s finalist performances, ranging in ages of 4 through adult, beginners thru professional, both men’s and women’s categories. Friday’s event also includes the Maeva Merced Polynesian Pageant, where lovely ladies and handsome gentlemen compete for the prestigious title of Miss and Mr. Maeva Merced. During the pageant, the Ahuroa (more formal Aparima dance style) Competition will be judged, as well as the Masters solo category finals.
The Solo Dancer Finals will be held on Saturday as well as the Tamari’i (children) Groups and Group Drumming Competition, featuring the most accomplished Tahitian Drumming groups in our area.
On Sunday morning, First Place winners of the Professional Soloists will compete for the Overall Vahine and Tane “Best Dancer Awards”. Also, Couples in Costume will take the floor with their colorful regalia and exciting duets! The afternoon will wind up with the Amateur and Professional Groups demonstrating their proficiency in the marvelous ‘Ote’a drum dances and the lively Aparima of Tahiti Nui!
The very best Island Style FOOD will be available throughout the event as well as authentic flower and Polynesian Craft Booths for your shopping pleasure.
TICKET INFORMATION ! ! !
www.kikiraina.com
Age 13 thru Adult - $15 advanced sale $17 at the door
Child age 5 thru 12yrs - $10 advanced sale $12 at the door
3day pass, advanced sale only adult $36, Child $27
For more information, Call Pacifica at 209 726-1925 between 10am and 6pm, Mon thru Sat. Advance sale tickets may be purchased through March 25th. Tickets are limited.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
2009 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
Eric Morales, one of the organizers of the Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete, recently advised us of news concerning the upcoming 30th anniversary event. Event preparations are in full swing. A special rate for nearby hotels is also in the works and details will be announced shortly."In addition, since this is the 30th anniversary event, we encourage people to e-mail us photos they may have taken of friends and family during any of the past Kiki Raina Fetes. These photos will be included in our program."
"Also, this year our fete would like to promote Polynesian Culture in a new fashion as we continue expanding our event program to publish artwork, poetry, essays, and/or short fiction that highlights Polynesia in any way, shape, or form. People may write about their experiences in creating their halau, about joining a specific halau, about what Polynesian culture means to them, about events in their lives that showcase the Aloha Spirit, or they can simply tell a story that relates to Polynesia in some way. Another interesting venue to take would be to write about a specific folktale or legend about the Polynesian Islands that they would like to share with the 2,000 people attending the event. Because folktales and legends are impossible to attribute to a single author and are by nature inconstant, it is possible to rewrite and/or illustrate them without infringing on any copyrights."
"All accepted work will be published with Limited Rights. This means that any work that makes it into our program will remain the intellectual property of the writer/artist."
"All written work will be edited by a PhD student in Folklore from Indiana Bloomington University - the premiere folklore institute in the nation. Valuable insights into story structure and sentence diagramming will be provided."
"Those who have their work published will receive a free program featuring their entry as well as a certificate from the Kiki Raina Event."
"This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring writers/artists to begin to have their work reviewed and published, which looks great on university applications, in portfolios, and on query letters to future publishers. Most importantly though, this is a way to keep the Polynesian Culture alive and thriving."
The 2009 event will take place March 27-29, 2009 and will again take place at the Merced County Fairgrounds. Advance purchase tickets are available - 3 Day Pass (advanced sale only - Adult $35, Child $25; Children (5-12) $10; Adult (13 and up) $15. Tickets available at the door - Children (5-12) $12, Adult (13 and up) $17. Advance tickets will be available up until March 23, 2009. Tickets are limited.
For more information, contact the event organizer, Becky Manandic, call Pacifica at (209) 726-1925 or visit their website at www.kikiraina.com.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Calling all Tahitian dance enthusiastic writers
We'd love to keep all our readers up to date all the time. We're looking for roaming reporters to help with keeping up with results and the "story" at the many Tahitian dance events. We receive requests all the time asking about results and we post as many as we can get from event organizers, but sometimes we just can't get the results that we want.
If you are interested in becoming a "roaming reporter" or correspondent, please let us know. Send us a sample of your original written work about Tahitian dance. Approved contributors can receive store credit at our online store - Black Pearl Designs. If your contribution is published, you will receive a writers credit and credit at our online store (to be determined depending on extent of content). Upon approval, submitting writer gives permission for Black Pearl Designs to publish above content on their website and publications.
Email us for details and event reporting needs.
Current reporting needs:
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete - Merced, CA
Tahiti Fete of San Jose - San Jose, CA
Heiva i Tahiti - Papeete, French Polynesia
Heiva i Reno - Reno, NV
If you are interested in becoming a "roaming reporter" or correspondent, please let us know. Send us a sample of your original written work about Tahitian dance. Approved contributors can receive store credit at our online store - Black Pearl Designs. If your contribution is published, you will receive a writers credit and credit at our online store (to be determined depending on extent of content). Upon approval, submitting writer gives permission for Black Pearl Designs to publish above content on their website and publications.
Email us for details and event reporting needs.
Current reporting needs:
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete - Merced, CA
Tahiti Fete of San Jose - San Jose, CA
Heiva i Tahiti - Papeete, French Polynesia
Heiva i Reno - Reno, NV
Friday, February 15, 2008
29th Annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete Press Release
29TH Annual KIKI RAINA TAHITI FETE
Tahitian Dance Competition and Cultural Festival
www.kikiraina.com
Merced County Fairgrounds – March 14, 15, 16, 2008
The 29th Annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete will be held at the Merced County Fairgrounds. The longest existing, annually held, Tahitian Dance and Cultural Festival outside of French Polynesia will be on Friday, March 14 from 9am – 9pm, Saturday the 15th, from 9am – 9pm and on Sunday the 16th from 9am – 6pm.
Those who enjoy a rich experience in traditional culture and dance will be enthralled by Friday’s presentation of the Solo Dance Competition eliminations and Saturday’s finalist performances, ranging in ages of 4 thru adult, beginners thru professional, both men’s and women’s categories. Friday’s event also includes the Maeva Merced Polynesian Pageant, where lovely ladies and handsome gentlemen compete for the prestigious title of Miss and Mr. Maeva Merced. During the pageant, the Ahuroa (more formal Aparima dance style) Competition will be judged, as well as the Masters solo category finals.
The Solo Dancer Finals will be held on Saturday as well as the Group Drumming Competition, featuring the most accomplished Tahitian Drumming groups in our area.
On Sunday morning, First Place winners of the Professional Soloists will compete for the Overall Vahine and Tane “Best Dancer Awards”. Also, Couples in Costume will take the floor with their colorful regalia and exciting duets! The afternoon will wind up with the Tamari’i (children), Amateur and Professional Groups demonstrating their proficiency in the marvelous ‘Ote’a drum dances and the lively Aparima of Tahiti Nui!
The very best Island Style FOOD will be available throughout the event as well as authentic flower and Polynesian Craft Booths for your shopping pleasure.
TICKET INFORMATION
Age 13 thru Adult - $15 advanced sale $17 at the door Child age 5 thru 12yrs - $10 advanced sale $12 at the door 3day pass, advanced sale only - adult $35, Child $25
For more information, Call Pacifica at 209 726-1925 between 10am and 6pm, Mon thru Sat. Advance sale tickets may be purchased through March 13th. Tickets are limited.
Tahitian Dance Competition and Cultural Festival
www.kikiraina.com
Merced County Fairgrounds – March 14, 15, 16, 2008
The 29th Annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete will be held at the Merced County Fairgrounds. The longest existing, annually held, Tahitian Dance and Cultural Festival outside of French Polynesia will be on Friday, March 14 from 9am – 9pm, Saturday the 15th, from 9am – 9pm and on Sunday the 16th from 9am – 6pm.
Those who enjoy a rich experience in traditional culture and dance will be enthralled by Friday’s presentation of the Solo Dance Competition eliminations and Saturday’s finalist performances, ranging in ages of 4 thru adult, beginners thru professional, both men’s and women’s categories. Friday’s event also includes the Maeva Merced Polynesian Pageant, where lovely ladies and handsome gentlemen compete for the prestigious title of Miss and Mr. Maeva Merced. During the pageant, the Ahuroa (more formal Aparima dance style) Competition will be judged, as well as the Masters solo category finals.
The Solo Dancer Finals will be held on Saturday as well as the Group Drumming Competition, featuring the most accomplished Tahitian Drumming groups in our area.
On Sunday morning, First Place winners of the Professional Soloists will compete for the Overall Vahine and Tane “Best Dancer Awards”. Also, Couples in Costume will take the floor with their colorful regalia and exciting duets! The afternoon will wind up with the Tamari’i (children), Amateur and Professional Groups demonstrating their proficiency in the marvelous ‘Ote’a drum dances and the lively Aparima of Tahiti Nui!
The very best Island Style FOOD will be available throughout the event as well as authentic flower and Polynesian Craft Booths for your shopping pleasure.
TICKET INFORMATION
Age 13 thru Adult - $15 advanced sale $17 at the door Child age 5 thru 12yrs - $10 advanced sale $12 at the door 3day pass, advanced sale only - adult $35, Child $25
For more information, Call Pacifica at 209 726-1925 between 10am and 6pm, Mon thru Sat. Advance sale tickets may be purchased through March 13th. Tickets are limited.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete 2008
There's a big happening on the March 14-16 weekend in Merced, California. Tahitian dance groups throughout the area and beyond will be competing in the longest running Tahitian dance event outside of Tahiti. The Merce Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete is organized by long time cultural supporter Becky Manandic who also runs her Polynesian store - Pacifica, in Merced. In her store you'll be able to peruse through unique Polynesian jewelry, pareos, Hawaiiana and a selection of island crafts and gifts. If you are in the area, feel free to visit and get the inside scoop about the event from her personally.
The competition will begin with a traditional solo competition and followed up in the evening with the Maeva Merced Pageant where tane (men) and vahine (women) compete for the coveted titles of Mr. and Miss Maeva Merced.
On Saturday and Sunday, group competition commences, cultural demonstrations, crafts and island foods, and soloist finals take the stage. Groups will compete in a number of categories including aparima, otea, ahuroa, drumming. Activities on Sunday will conclude with a tamari'i (children) exhibition.
The Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete is located at the Merced County Fairgrounds. Tickets are available at Pacifica or by calling 209-726-1925 from 10am and 6pm PDT. Visit the official website for details.
The competition will begin with a traditional solo competition and followed up in the evening with the Maeva Merced Pageant where tane (men) and vahine (women) compete for the coveted titles of Mr. and Miss Maeva Merced.
On Saturday and Sunday, group competition commences, cultural demonstrations, crafts and island foods, and soloist finals take the stage. Groups will compete in a number of categories including aparima, otea, ahuroa, drumming. Activities on Sunday will conclude with a tamari'i (children) exhibition.
The Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete is located at the Merced County Fairgrounds. Tickets are available at Pacifica or by calling 209-726-1925 from 10am and 6pm PDT. Visit the official website for details.
Monday, November 05, 2007
2008 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete
Event organizer Becky Manandic has announced that the 2008 Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete will take place March 14-16, 2008. The Merced County Fairgrounds will again serve as the location for the competition and activities.
This event is distinguished as the longest existing Tahitian Dance and Cultural Festival held outside of French Polynesia. As such it also serves as one of the first major competitions of the year.
Organizers are working on finalizing applications and event program. Visit the official site for updates and information needed to participate and purchase tickets.
For more information and a schedule of all Tahitian Dance events throughout the country, visit our website - Black Pearl Designs.
This event is distinguished as the longest existing Tahitian Dance and Cultural Festival held outside of French Polynesia. As such it also serves as one of the first major competitions of the year.
Organizers are working on finalizing applications and event program. Visit the official site for updates and information needed to participate and purchase tickets.
For more information and a schedule of all Tahitian Dance events throughout the country, visit our website - Black Pearl Designs.
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