FOCUS ON THE HEIVA I PARIS
This year marks the 3rd annual Heiva i Paris which is the biggest Tahitian dance festival in Europe. Tahiti Dance Online looks closer at this years competition highlights.
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In 2014, Europe held its first official Heiva, the Heiva i Paris, which is the largest Tahitian dance festival in Europe, and has become the official European platform for the Tahitian Dance World Championships. Therefore, once a year the Heiva i Paris brings together the best dancers from all over Europe but has also opened the competition up further afield to continents such as the United States, Asia and Oceania. All competitors perform on stage in front of an audience with judges from Tahiti renown for their ‘Ori Tahiti skills and expertise, an event rich in emotion that offers us a journey to the heart of Polynesia. Competition winners earn a spot in the prestigious European top honours club and also get an airline ticket with Air Tahiti Nui to represent Europe in the ‘Ori Tahiti world championships.
During the first edition of the Heiva i Paris in 2014 at the Adyar Theatre in Paris the tickets sold out almost immediately and so following the success of the first edition, the competition was extended to a couple of days and to a bigger theatre.
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This year the competition was held on the 10th of September 2016 with more than 110 dancers, 14 dance groups and at least 2,500 spectators present. Far from concentrating on the traditional, the festival was more geared towards modernity in the spirit of Tahitian dance. There were competitors from far and wide including Europe, America, Mexico and Japan. The program was packed with magnificent soloists and dance groups topped off with a unique performance by famous ‘Ori Tahiti dance group Tahiti Ora.
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Organisers Ken and Serena Carlter are delighted because for the third edition of Heiva i Paris, they managed to accommodate a full house at the famous Bobino theatre, a place that has hosted many big stars. The competition was fierce! The jury selected from Tahiti was very strict and gave points according to technique and stage presence where the lucky finalists got to perform the next evening with the hope of winning the title. Because of the festivals infancy, the performances radiated with emotion and technique but is needing to evolve more towards professionalism. Top performances came from O Tahiti Nui from Paris and Mana Tahiti from Milan who clenched third place.
Here are the full results of the competition:
Résultats du Heiva i Paris 2016
ORI TOA : /500
1. Hekenui – 404 points
2. Manu Harapoi – 378 points
3. Kevin Mitatre – 362 points
4. Atalea Saliga – 276 points
DUO : /500
1. Kahaia Robert & Teiki Boosie – 430 points
2. Poerani Albert & Moanatea Punu – 423 points
3. Aurore Legrain & Manu Harapoi – 366 points
4 .Lolita Falchi & Teaonui Tetumu – 354 points
APARIMA SOLO : /500
1. Tahia Cambet – 431 points puis 458 points en Finale
2. Tehani Frachon – 411 points puis 427 points en Finale
3. Carine Lifon – 399 points
4. Nancy Cavé – 394 points
TROUPES OTEA : /500
1. O Tahiti Nui – 432 points
2. Hekenui – 394 points
3. Mana Tahiti – 374 points
4. Vahine Ori Tahiti La Rochelle – 347 points
ORI VAHINE SOLO : /500
1. Melina Wamytan – 431 points
2. Tahia Cambet – 416 points
3. Hélène Rossi – 412 points
ORI TANE SOLO : /500
1. Yvannick Dahlan – 423 points
2. Moanatea Punu – 412 points
3. Teaonui Tetumu – 387 points
TROUPES MEHURA : /500
1. O Tahiti Nui – 459 points
2. Hekenui – 446 points
3. O Tahiti Nui 2 – 433 points
4. Ori Nuna’a – 419 points
SOURCE: Polynésie Premiere
(Photo : Philippe Binet/LDT)
In the above photo you can see Tahia Cambet and her group O Tahiti Nui who won best group title as well as the organisers and sponsors, and crouched down is Melina Wamytan and Yvannick Dahlan who on the soloist sections. As the Heiva i Paris grows and evolves so does the presence of ‘Ori Tahiti in Europe. We wish them all the best for future competitions!
