Tarena Tahiti & Te Aranui O Tahiti

Skyline College of San Bruno, California is the new home for Tarena Tahiti and Te Aranui O Tahiti. Tarena Tahiti (Tahitian calendar) is a solo, drumming and costume competition produced by Elizabeth Bertumen and the award-winning group Nemenzo. Following Tarena Tahiti is Te Aranui O Tahiti, a group exhibition event featuring performances uninhibited by the pressures of the modern day competitions.

Both events will be taking place on Memorial Day weekend, May 29-30, 2010 at the Skyline College Main Theater. Tickets are available for $15 (Tarena Tahiti), and $10 per hourly show (Te Arenui O Tahiti).

The judges for Tarena Tahiti this year are:

Aaron Sencil - Director of the group Hui Tama Nui from Vallejo California in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hui Tama Nui has won numerous awards including Overall Group at Heiva I Reno and San Jose Tahiti Fete. Aaron has received merits for his beautiful costumes and unique and creative presentations. Currently he is also owner and artist selling Polynesian influenced clothing line and accessories, doing business as "Boutiki" and "Dodo Art".

Tiana Liufau - Director of Nonosina Polynesia of Anaheim, California. Nonosina is a world renowned award winning group known for their outstanding presentation in Tahitian Dance and Music Competitions. Predominantly winning 1st and Overall in their competition entries, Nonosina continues to set the trend with their unique and creative style. Their global influence expands from the US to Mexico, Japan and more. They continue to compete and conduct workshops in the US and abroad.

Remy Tekurio - Choreographer and Costumer for Tekurio Nui of Southern California hails from Utah and comes from a family with a long history of Polynesian Dance and Entertainment. He co-hosted Heiva I Orlando along side Roiti Sylva for 3 years. He has danced for PCC for 5 yrs and has judged for Tahitian Competitions in California, Utah and Florida. His next endeavor will be opening his own dance group in Utah.

Te Aranui O Tahiti will feature six groups, Manuia Polynesia (San Francisco), Merahi O Tehani (Union City), Tamali'i (Hayward), Te Orama (Daly City), Tamari'i Mata'irea (Stockton), and Nemenzo (Daly City).

For more information, email tarena_tahiti@yahoo.com, tearanuiotahiti@yahoo.com or call (415) 425-1662.

Hura Tahiti 2010

Looking to the 2010 Tahitian dance calendar, we have the Hura Tahiti 2010 dates hosted by Hope International University in Fullerton, California on June 18-19. This will be the sixth year that Alex Tekurio, ra'atira of the award-winning group Hitia O Te Ra will be producing the event.

This past June, intense competition in the 5th annual event led to Manuia Polynesia taking the overall group award. But Nemenzo, Le Polynesia, Te Mana O Te Ra, and Te Pura O Te Rahura'a were close behind. Overall Vahine - Evlyn Bustamante of Da Island Way and Overall Tane - Glenn Salonga of Manuia Polynesia will also be hard pressed to repeat next year.

Applications are now available on the website and additional information about special hotel rates and schedule will be forthcoming. Check back periodically for updates.

Farereiraa 2009

Farereiraa 2009 took place this past weekend. Soloists performed with their respective dance groups and competed for top solo honors. The event was organized by Coco Hotahota and was held after the 127th annual Heiva i Tahiti events concluded. The US and Japanese dance groups performed and participated in cultural workshops and exchanges during their stay in Tahiti.

Partial results of the soloist competition:

Junior Tane
Dane Dejes of Otea Api

Junior Vahine

Senior Tane
Justin (Froggie) Atangan of Nemenzo

Senior Vahine
Katrina Dejesis of Otea Api

More information and gallery at La Depeche de Tahiti

Photos of the International Faarereiraa in Papeete

Here is a small gallery of photos from the recent Faarereiraa in Papeete by Tahiti Presse. This event featured close to 600 dancers from The US and Japan. Soloists and groups competed in the event. The dance groups also are participating in other exhibitions throughout the islands. Groups involved included Here Tama Nui (Honolulu) and Manutahi (Wahiawa), Nemenzo (Daly City), Otea Api (Fremont), Hitia O Te Ra (Garden Grove) and Mahana O Te Ra (Japan).

The event took place over this past weekend, July 18-20, 2009. And was held in following the Heiva i Tahiti competition where French Polynesia groups competed. Results of the Heiva i Tahiti will be announced this evening.

More information at Tahiti Presse

International Cultural Farereiraa

Five US Tahitian dance groups and 1 from Japan will compete in the International Cultural Farereiraa (gathering) in Papeete, Tahiti. The groups competing include Nemenzo (San Francisco), Ote'a Api (Freemont), Hitia O Te Ra (Los Angeles), Here Tama Nui and Manutahi (Hawaii). Mahana O Te Ra is coming from Japan. Events will take place July 18-20 at Place To'ata.

Te Fare Tauhiti Nui and Coco Hotahota organizated the event to share the passion of Tahitian dance with foreign groups. Both soloists and groups will compete. Approximately 600 dancers are reported to be participating.

More reporting at La Depeche de Tahiti

Te Aranui O Tahiti highlights exhibitions

A letter from Elizabeth Nemenzo Bertumen,
producer of Te Aranui O Tahiti

Ote’a ‘Api of Fremont, California opened the event with a beautiful traditional program. Their theme was “Honor and Respect” for one another and the cultural traditions passed on from one generation to the other. Under the direction of their ra’atira pupu, Anthony Manaois, the audience got a treat from with his whimsical version of the “old style” use of the pahu tupai using his head, elbows, feet in varied positions from laying on his back to rolling his entire body on the drum.

Manuia Polynesia under the direction of Tommy Tualalulelei from San Francisco, followed with “Mokorea” from the Tuamotu Islands of Tahiti. Their elaborate costumes and high energy performance received accolades from the young tamari’i’s to the power driven “Haka” from the men of Manuia. This presentation earned Manuia one of the many awards they’ve received at the San Jose Tahiti Fete.

Te Orama of Daly City claimed the opening of the second show. Its director, Malu Rivera-Peoples and Anthony Manaois supervised the dancers of all ages as they paid homage to the sea turtle “Honu” with a 30 minute presentation comprised of an ote’a and an aparima. Dressed in traditional ceremonial ote’a costumes and vibrant floral prints, dancers displayed their love for the dance and music of Tahiti.

Elizabeth Bertumen, Nemenzo’s director announced the last group of the day. The finale was Nemenzo of San Francisco’s mixed presentation of traditional and contemporary dance and music. Young dancers, some as young as 4 yrs, captured the audience’s attention. Drums pulsating new modern beats complimented the group’s ote’a amui. The aparima softened the mood emulating from the soothing sounds of Nemenzo’s musicians.

The exhibitions were breathtaking as the audience cheered on group after group. Overall, it was a festive weekend and everyone reunited with old friends and acquired new ones. For updates and information visit www.myspace.com/tearanuiotahiti.

Te Aranui O Tahiti 2008

Have you ever wondered what exactly the judges are looking for when they watch soloists and groups? Te Aranui O Tahiti 2008 took that very question and conducted a series of workshops for soloists and groups. Dancers from Merahi O Tehani, Tamali'i, Ka Ua Tuahine, Na Hoku of Canada and Nemenzo participated in the workshops. Guests Coco Hotahota and Roiti Sylva conducted the class, breaking down basic steps necessary in a solo dance competition routine. Correct execution, spelling and terminology of each of the steps was emphasized. As the drummers were creating the atmosphere, each student presented a freestyle solo. An evaluation score sheet covering all the workshop dance steps and critiques was given to each student. An open discussion session with the guests concluded the class workshop.

It's rare that dancers are given the opportunity to work one-on-one on the details with the very judges that they perform in front of at other competitions throughout the year.

Always a crowd pleaser, the event also featured group presentations. Te Orama, 'Ote'a 'Api, Tiare O Te Ao and Nemenzo impressed with 'Ote'a and Aparima. Coco commented regarded the weekend activities as "tres beau". Te Aranui O Te Ao (TAOT) 2009 will take place April 25 and 26, 2009 at the San Francisco State University Gym. Mark your calendars and check our site for updates. For more information, visit the official site.

Results for the 2007 Heiva I Reno

Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA showed why it is a leader in the Tahitian dance community. With strong performances in all categories, the group took 1st place in the overall group competition. All groups participating were able to shine including Nemenzo, Motu'aina, Manava Polynesia and E Honu Iti E.

The Heiva are in full swing with 6 more (not including this weekend's Heiva I Maui) scheduled for 2007. Heiva I Reno, hosted by the Reno Grand Sierra Resort, featured solo and group competition in the resorts' Silver Pavillion. The competition ran from August 3-4, 2007 and featured $2,500 for the dance group grand prize. Entrants competed in otea, aparima, drumming and featured a couples competition. Results for the group and couples categories are posted below. A new photo gallery is now available as well at Gyme Images. Solo results will be posted when they become available.

Couples Competition
1. Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA
2. Nemenzo of Daly City, CA
3. E Honu Iti E of Tracy, CA

Group Competition
Ta'ata Pa'ari Overall
1. Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA

Tamari'i/Jr. Aparima
1. Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA
2. Manava Polynesia of Fountain Valley, CA
3. Motu'aina of Danville, CA



Ta'ata Pa'ari Aparima
1. Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA
2. (tie) Motu'aina of Danville, CA
2. (tie) Manava Polynesia of Fountain Valley, CA

Tamari'i/Jr. Otea
1. Manava Polynesia of Fountain Valley, CA
2. Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA
3. Motu'aina of Danville, CA

Ta'ata Pa'ari Otea
1. Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA
2. Manava Polynesia of Fountain Valley, CA

Traditional Drumming
1. Manava Polynesia of Fountain Valley, CA

Contemporary Drumming
1. Hui Tama Nui of Vallejo, CA

Hui Tama Nui also received honors for outstanding costuming, leadership, theme, music and use of the Tahitian language.