REGISTRATION

To compete in any category at TATOU FESTIVAL’S Ori Tahiti Competition, you must fill out an application form and submit your fees.  To register, click on a Solo, Duet, or Group Registration tab.  Fill in your information and click ‘Register Now’.  Registration will close two days before the competition for soloists.  For the Group and Duet Otea and Aparima categories, music/accompaniment must be received by TATOU FESTIVAL no later than two weeks before the competition. 

In registering to compete in the Ori Tahiti competition, you are affirming that you are in sufficient physical condition to participate in the highly rigorous and athletic activities, retain your own personal health/liability insurance, and you have received necessary approval from your medical provider if necessary.  You also agree that TATOU FESTIVAL and its constituents, partners, and affiliates, etc. are not responsible for any physical injury that you may incur as a participant in any of our activities, nor will you seek any legal action against the named organization, partners and affiliates, or hold the organization liable.  It also understood that you will not receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for your participation. Any photographs, video footage, or other media that include you or your likeness, during your participation, will be the sole property of TATOU FESTIVAL, and may be used at the organizations discretion. 

FEES

We try our best to keep fees as low as possible.  They are a necessary contribution to help make this event a possibility.  Everyone must pre-register. There will be no same day registrations, in-person. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.  Slots are limited, so we recommend registering and securing your participation today.  To pay your fees, click on ‘Pay via Venmo’, or ‘Pay via PayPal.  This will direct you to PayPal or Venmo. Input your total amounts. In the comments type in the categories you are paying for.  Click send payment. 

The 2025 registration fees are as follows. 

Solo Ote’a: $45

Solo Aparima/Mehura: $45

Duet Ote’a: $65

Duet Aparima: $65

Group Ote’a (4-8 dancers): $125

Group Aparima/Mehura (4-8 dancers): $125

CRITERIA

Solo Categories

• Ote’a Vahine, Ote’a Tane, Aparima Vahine, Aparima Tane

  Dancers must be age 15+ and must have obtained a working knowledge and experience in Ori Tahiti and possess an ability to execute basic Ori Tahiti technical steps. 

  Costumes

• Ote’a

  It is highly recommended that you craft an exquisite costume that is made of natural fibers and materials or fresh foliage.  It should be complete and coherent from head to toe.  All costume elements should remain intact. Be creative so you will stand out.  If you are utilizing a tumu parau, it should reflect the theme you are representing.

  • Vahine

    • Wear a plain (no print) cotton pareu.

    • No hip hei.

    • Adornments (necklaces, hei pua, breastplates, etc) should not block your dancing. 

    • Headdress should compliment the costume.   

  • Tāne 

    • Wear a maro made of natural fibers and/or foliage such as auti, tapa, more, or paeore; or a cotton tihere.

    • Adornments (necklaces, hei pua, breastplates, etc) should not block your dancing. 

    • Headdress should compliment the costume.

• Aparima/Mehura

  • We recommend exquisite costumes that reflect the tumu parau of your dance. Be creative with it.

  • It does not need to be formal wear.

  • It should accentuate your dance and movements

  • Be a complete outfit from head to toe.

  • Should be completely separate from your ote’a costume, if you are in both categories.

Scoring

• Solo Ote’a Vahine, Solo Ote’a Tane

  • Round 1 Ote’a

    • Each dancer will improvise approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes.

    • The jury will focus on your technical proficiency. 

    • Obligatory Vahine steps include: fa’arapu, tifene, ope, varu, tahapehape, and otamu.

    • Obligatory Tane steps include: paoti, taparuru, totoro, hupapi, patia, and ne’e animara.  

  • Final Round Ote’a

    • The top six dancers are selected to compete in the finals. 

    • The jury will score your performance and technique. 

    • Your expression, connection with audience, stage presence, creativity, fluidity, ease of movement, and sumptuousness of your dancing will be scored.

    • The top three scores determine the winners.

  • Aparima/Mehura

    • Each dancer will perform a 4-5 minute aparima or mehura of their choice.

    • Judges will focus on your choreography, fluidity of movement, technical proficiency, expression and stage presence, use of space, connection with the audience, and comprehension of your dance’s theme or message.

    • There will be only one round of dancing, and the top three scores will determine the winners.

  • Overall Winner

    • To win the title "TATOU FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL OVERALL CHAMPION”, the dancers with the top scores of all ote’a and aparima divisions combined will determine who competes in the overall round dance battle.

    • Your performance will be the focus of the scoring. 

    • Musicality and dynamics will be an important factor. 

    • Overall energy, flexibility, and captivating stage presence will be considered. 

    • One winner will be chosen. Fa’aitoito!

Duets

• Ote’a & Aparima/Mehura

  • Stage time should be a minimum of 4 minutes

  • Two dancers share the stage and present a range of relationship themes.

  • Be creative and investigate your idea.

  • It can be human relationships, the sun and moon, or Maui and the sun, the wind and the trees, etc.

  • There will be one round of duet performances to determine the winners.

  • The criteria for costumes and scoring follows that of the group categories below.

Group Categories (4-8 dancers)

• Ote’a & Aparima/Mehura

  • Groups should be comprised of four to eight dancers.

  • When you are in unison, it should be very clean and precise.

  • Your stage time must be a minimum of five minutes.

  • Send your music, name of composer, Tahitian lyrics and English translation, and the description of your dance as soon as possible, no later than two weeks prior to the competition.

• Costumes

  • Costumes can be made of any material

  • Should be of your own design and creation.

  • A modern or innovative expression of traditional wear using natural elements and fibers is encouraged. Be creative.

  • Your apparel should reflect your concept or theme.

  • It is not necessary for all the costumes to be exactly the same, however, it should be clear that they are related.

• Scoring

  The winning group will exhibit a strong knowledge of their message shown through their performance, technical mastery, and choreographic composition. Musicality and dynamics are important factors and will both be scored. Additionally, your group will earn points for precision during the unison moments, how well dancers relate to each other onstage, and how successful your group is at engaging the audience. Lastly, your group will be judged on its overall performance and stage presence.

Personal Conduct

It is of utmost importance that we all conduct ourselves in a friendly and professional manner.  In order for everyone to enjoy the experience to the fullest, we ask that everyone be courteous to everyone and encourage all participants of the competition.  Many people have traveled long distances and have had to make sacrifices to be part of this event.  Let us be examples of our Pacific Island upbringing and create a loving and caring community environment that will extend past our event’s time and date.

Check-In at Venue

When you check-in at your designated time, please bring a photo ID.  Dancers will be directed to the dressing room.  Because of limited space, those who are not competing will not be allowed in the dressing room.  You will be given a number that must be worn visibly on your costume at the right hip.  Your punctuality will play a vital role in making sure you are where you need to be, at the time you need to be there, ensuring a smooth run of events.  There is not much leeway if you do not show up where you need to be at the correct time.  This may affect your participation.  If necessary, ask a TATOU FESTIVAL representative to show you ahead of time where you need to be so you will not be left behind.

Dressing Room

There will be limited space in the dressing room.  Please do not bring luggage or large bags with you.  Because of space limitations, only competitors will be allowed in the dressing room.  We recommend you show up mostly ready, hair and makeup done, put on your costume when you arrive at the holding area. Leave your valuables with someone you trust.  Please arrive to the venue at the designated time. Pay close attention to when you are called to line up in numerical order.  A runner will be designated to each grouping of dancers and will notify you when it is your turn to dance.  

House Drummers

We will have house drummers that will provide live accompaniment for the solo ote’a competition.  There will be several beats that will be on rotation for solo competitors to dance their improvisation.   

Awards

There will be a ceremony for awards immediately following the competition. A closing reception will close the event on Sunday where you will be able to mingle and celebrate the winners who may be invited to perform! Fa’aitoito Tatou!