2025 

July - December

With heiva Digital

And what if there were now several 'ori Tahiti?

Tradition and modernity in 'Ori Tahiti

​

The evolution of 'Ori Tahiti's dance and competition is questioning.

We invite you to join us in questioning YOUR dance.

About the practice of 'Ori Tahiti, here in Polynesia, and all over the world.

​This has become necessary so that everyone can express themselves freely,

knowing which ‘category’ their dance falls into.

​

 

What are we going to do?

 

Clarify - Honouring - Respect

Clarify

​

Dance is a living art form, and it is only natural that it should evolve over time.

                              We are far from denying this evolution. However, it is becoming necessary to clarify things.                                            Many Polynesians find it difficult to recognise their dance. Yet in our society, dance is a cultural landmark. A marker of identity.

'Ori Tahiti is becoming a **syncretism before our very eyes.

So we need to start by clarifying things. Clarifying the traditional part, the modern part,

and finally the fusion of ‘Ori Tahiti and another discipline.

To achieve this clarification, we're not going to impose anything.  We are going to ask you to take part in this clarification.

This will be our first collective mission.

        

​

    

 

Thanking and honouring

A bit of history...

 

At the beginning of the 19th century, dancing in public was banned. Dancing never completely disappeared, but it was suppressed by evangelisation. From the 1840s to the 1880s, dancing was successively authorised and then banned on the grounds of moral disorder. Public dancing in dance groups was officially authorised and encouraged in 1881.

The first public ‘Heiva’ took place during the 14 July celebrations, 

 

The revival :

In 1956 the first dance group in the current sense was created by Madeleine Moua. She was the first contemporary dance master.         

Dance masters of the 20th century

In the wake of Madeleine Moua, a number of dance masters set up their own groups and contributed to the revival of dance.  As the dance boomed, many people made the effort to learn more and give themselves unreservedly

to the love of ‘Ori Tahiti.

It is to these masters that we owe the foundation of the dance we practise today. Some are no longer with us, others are still with us. Their successors are keeping their legacy alive.​

​

Find out more about the history of dance

​​

Thanking and honouring them is one of our most cherished duties.

We will be proposing a special event to honour the memory of the masters of ‘Ori Tahiti. This event will take place in early 2026.​

​

​Respect

​

​There are many reasons for practising ‘Ori Tahiti. We accept them all.

The practice of ‘Ori Tahiti is above all a collective activity. Solos are traditionally the exception. The competitions first introducedin the United States have put the spotlight on soloists. The format of improvisation in a very short space of time was then exported, mainly to Mexico then Japan, France and many other places.

The format finally came to Tahiti around ten years ago with the Ori Tahiti Nui Competition.

It is particularly through solo competitions that modernity is making inroads even in the cradle of dance.

However, the constraints involved in organising these competitions mean that the performances are sometimes far removed from the collective spirit of ‘Ori Tahiti.

The technical level of the dancers is generally very high. The costumes can be exceptional.

The spirit of these events is one of excellent promotion of our country. But what about the spirit of ‘Ori Tahiti ?

We want more.

We'll be thinking about this over the coming months.

So that a competition for 'Ori Tahiti, soloists ad groups as well, can be both a love song to our dance masters

and a perfectly contemporary event.

​

​

We respect every Ori Tahiti dancer in the world.

But we also want every Polynesian to identify with your dance practice, wherever you are.​

We are proud that our dance enchants you.

In return, we ask you to contribute to the preservation of this heritage.

The first step is to clarify the practice of Ori Tahiti.​​​

​

Wherever you are, please take part in this project.​

​​