2025 and 2026

​

Over the last three years, dance competitions have been multiplying, both face-to-face and online.

We want to redefine the ‘Ori Tahiti competition for our future events.

The Heiva Digital team has therefore decided to take a step back and, over the next two years, propose a reflection on the practice

of the dance at home in Polynesia, and wherever it is practised.

We invite you to join us in this reflection.

Events will be organised for you. You'll discover them as the months go by

 

What are we going to do?

 

Clarify

 

Dance is becoming a syncretism** before our very eyes.  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.

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.

                        

**Syncretism: the blending of two or more cultural characteristics as a result of the coexistence of different cultures. In a globalised world, syncretism flourishes naturally.

 

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, to encourage Tahitians to celebrate the bank holidays. The Heiva has been held every year since. The only interruptions to the Heiva took place during the two world wars.

 

The revival :

In 1956 the first dance group in the current sense was created by Madeleine Moua. She was the first contemporary dance master.                    Find out more about the history of dance

 

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.

The rigid criteria established between the end of the 19th century and the early 1960s were gradually called into question. Coco Hotahota was the first to break away from the very strict rules and introduce a dose of modernity into dance. However, he remained very faithful to the spirit of tradition.

As the dance boomed, many people made the effort to learn 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.

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.

Read more about the history of the dance

​

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 introduced

in 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

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? It's always a moment of joy, a moment of appreciation, where families encourage their children.

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

So that a competition for 'Ori Tahiti soloists can be both a love song to our dance masters

and a perfectly contemporary event.

We also want every Polynesian to recognize themselves in your dancing, wherever you are.  We believe that your practice should not cause suffering for the culture whose practice you adopt.

We respect every 'Ori Tahiti dancer in the world. We are proud that our dance enchants you.

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

​

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

Help define the evolution of 'Ori Tahiti

​