HEIVA I TAHITI 2024

It is always a pleasure to participate in Heiva in the homeland. Though the process can be grueling, and with the ever increasing talent and bar raising, it can be quite a challenge. Participants are expected to not only train in Ori Tahiti and attend several rehearsals weekly, where learning choreography and building community in a group takes place, dancers are also expected to craft their own costumes. This can be very easy, or difficult, depending on the complexity of the designs. This can be an added stress to one’s already busy everyday schedule with work, school, and/or families. There is a lot of sacrifice, and it makes it all worth it knowing you gave everything you could. This year our director collaborated again with Ia Ora Te Hura, whom he also worked with back in 2022. This year the group participated in the Hura Tau (professional) category. The theme was Marama (Light of the Moon). All the dances reflected different aspects of the moon and how its relationships.