Tahitian dance is called ‘Ori Tahiti and Hawaiian dance is called Hula.
Many people mistake the Tahitian dance, ‘Ori Tahiti, for Hawaiian dance, Hula, or assume they are both the same style, but each of these dances are from different Polynesian islands and have their own identities.
Both 'Ori Tahiti and Hula were a vital part of life in ancient times and were present in religious ceremonies and rituals, social gatherings and celebrations, and everyday life. Prior to the arrival of written word, song and dance were used by the people to pass down information about their history and traditions. Every dance contains knowledge and information presented as story.
There are many different types of dances within 'Ori Tahiti and Hula. At LSHO, we focus on the Tahitian styles of 'ōte'a and 'aparima and the Hawaiian styles of Hula Kahiko and Hula 'auana.
At the London School of Hula and ‘Ori, we provide authentic Tahitian dance, or ‘Ori Tahiti as well as Hawaiian Hula classes to students who are interested in and passionate about these traditional and contemporary Polynesian dances and with our teachers and guest teachers guiding you during dance classes and workshops, you will quickly learn the differences between the two dances and how to perform each of them correctly and confidently.
The History Of Tahitian And Hula
The dances you will learn at LSHO all have cultural significance and recite stories that are related to people, nature, and the cosmos. Each dance you will learn will be packed with meaning and you will come to understand each movement, ensuring a deper connection betweeen you and the dance. Alongside this, you will learn about the words, meanings, and music of each dance. This is a necessary part of learning as you cannot seperate the movement from the culture.
The Types Of ‘Ori Tahiti
‘Ōte’a
Fast-paced and dynmaic movements set to Tahitian percussion.
'Aparima
Graceful storytelling set to beautiful Tahitian songs.
‘Ori Tahiti provides a fun and unique way to develop strength and stamina while also diving into both your feminity and masculinity. Classes are often taught in a quick-paced environment and provide a challenging but exciting experience for dancers at any level.
At LSHO we focus on the two main styles: ‘ōte’a and ‘aparima.
‘Ōte'a
The recognisable Tahitian dance, ʻōteʻa, is fast-paced and accompanied by the lively beating of drums. The female movements incorporate the unmistakable fa'arapu, which is the quick rotation of the hips. It tends to be high energy but sensual and requires a great deal of stamina, coordination, strength, and grace.
'Aparima
‘Aparima, which translates to Hand Gestures, is focused on the movements of the arms and hands, and the story they are telling. While this style is less of a cardiovascular workout, it goes deeper into expression and understanding of story.
‘Ori Tahiti is for you if you:
Are looking for an upbeat style of movement
Are looking for a workout more focued on developing strength and stamina
Are interested in learning various styles of dance in a quick-paced environment
Are looking to boost your energy and sensuality
The Types Of Hula
Hula 'Auana
Contemporary Hula set to modern Hawaiian songs
Hula Kahiko
Ancient Hula set to traditional Hawaiian chants and instruments
Hula tends to be a more meditative way to develop grace and control while diving into spirituality, expression, and fludity. Classes are taught in a lower-impact and relaxing environment and allow dancers to deepen their connection to mind, body, and spirit while still gaining a deep workout. and be a lower-impact dance that is easy on the joints, but it still provides a deep workout. Hula can also be a great way to reduce stress and anxiety as the music, rhythmic movements, and the focus on breathing can help to calm the mind and body.
There are two main styles of Hawaiian Hula: Hula Kahiko and Hula 'Auana.
Hula Kahiko is the ancient style of Hula, dating back to before the arrival of Europeans in Hawai'i and maintains a sacred connection to Hawaiian mythology, history, and ceremony. Within Kahiko, there are other various cultural elements that dancers learn.
Hula Kahiko can range from slow and methodical to powerful and dynamic and focuses on developing strength and wellness of body, mind, and soul.Hula 'Auana is the modern style of Hula, which developed in the late 19th century. It is characterized by its use of more Westernised music and its focus on storytelling and entertainment. Hula ‘Auana is can be soft in expression and requires a great deal of grace, fluidity, and control.
Hula is for you if you:
Are looking for a softer more fluid style of movement
Want a workout that is focused on control, grace, and strength
Are interested in learning the history and meanings behind your movements in a communal setting
Want to deepen the connection between mind, body, soul