Like every year since more than 130 years, Polynesians have an appointment with their culture from July 02nd to July 18th 2015. This edition of the Heiva Festival is going to be an outstanding one with the record participation of 15 dance groups and 21 singing groups. Again, they will perform in To’ata the famous cultural site, right in Papeete. The stunning walking on fire, also called in Tahiti “umu ti” has opened the festivities earlier this week.
During 7 nights, the 15 groups of dance and 21 singing groups will present a flaming show. The come back of the groups from the districts called the “mata’eina’a” highlights this new edition. The jury is composed of 9 personalities coming from the world of Polynesian Culture; all of them are elected by the dancing group leaders.
This year, the jury will assign 51 prices for all the categories.
On July 01st, the walking on fire opened the festivities at the Mahana Park. Organized by the priest Raymond Teriierooiterai, this exceptional ceremony is celebrating its 61 edition and represents an intense Ancestral Ritual. After the incantations, the volunteers are invited to follow the “tahua” to walk on hot and burning stones.
On July 2nd is the opening traditional ceremony named “Rahiri”. During this ritual, the group leaders competing are sealing their commitment with the Jury members, as a proof of respect. Every participant is dressed in white and holds a banana leaf which they drop on the ground.
The evening program
Thursday, July 2
6:00pm – 6:10pm: Introduction
6:10pm – 6:40pm: RAHIRI (traditional opening ceremony)
6:50pm – 7:50pm: PIRAE NUI E – A HERE TO NUNA’A (Hura Ava Tau)
8:00pm – 8:30pm: TAMARII PEREAITU (Tarava Tahiti)
8:40pm – 9:10pm: TAURA’ATUA (Tarava Tuhaa Pae)
9:20pm – 10:20pm: TEMAEVA (Hura Tau)
Friday, July 3
6:00pm – 6:10pm: Introduction
6:10pm – 6:40pm: TAMARII MATAIEA (Tarava tahiti)
6:50pm – 7:20pm: ASSOCIATION AUTI RE’A (Tarava tahiti)
7:30pm – 8:30pm: TEFANA I AHURA’I E TU (Hura Ava Tau)
8:40pm – 9:10pm: TEMAHOTU (Tarava Raromatai)
9:20pm – 9:50pm: PIRAE NUI E- A HERE TO NUNA’A (Tarava Tahiti)
10:00pm – 11:00pm: TEVA I TAI (Hura Tau)
Saturday, July 4
6:00pm – 6:10pm: Introduction
6:10pm -6:40pm: TAMARII VAIRAO (Tarava Tahiti)
6:50pm – 7:50pm: TAMARII TOAHOTU NUI (Hura ava tau)
8:00pm – 8:30pm: O FAA’A (Tarava Raromatai)
8:40pm – 9:10pm: TAMARII PAPEARI (Tarava Tahiti)
9:20pm – 10:20pm: HANATIKA (Hura Tau)
Wednesday, July 8
6:00pm – 6:10pm: Introduction
6:10pm – 6:40pm: TAMARII MAHINA (Tarava Raromatai)
6:50pm – 7:50pm: TEFANA I AHURAI (Hura Ava Tau)
8:00pm – 8:30pm: HAURURU PAPENOO (Tarava Tahiti)
8:40pm – 9:10pm: VAIHOATAUA (Tarava Raromatai)
9:20pm – 10:20pm : TAMARII MATAIEA (Hura Tau)
Thursday, July 9
6:00pm – 6:10pm: Introduction
6:10pm – 7:10pm: HEI ORA (Hura Ava Tau)
7:20pm – 7:50pm: TAMARII RAPA NO TAHITI (Tarava Tuhaa Pae)
8:00pm– 9:00pm: TAMARII PEREAITU (Hura Ava Tau)
9:10pm – 9:40pm: TEFANA I AHURAI (Tarava Raromatai)
9:50pm – 10:50pm: TAURA’ATUA (Hura Tau)
Friday, July 10
6:00pm – 6:10pm: Introduction
6:10pm – 6:40pm: TAMARII TUHAA PAE NO MAHINA (Tarava Tuhaa Pae)
6:50pm – 7:20pm: TAMARII PAPARA (Tarava Tahiti)
7:30pm – 8:30pm: HEIHERE (Hura Ava Tau)
8:40pm – 9:10pm: VAIARII NUI (Tarava Tahiti)
9:20pm – 9:50pm: ORI I TAHITI (Hura Tau)
Saturday, July 11
6:00pm – 6:10pm: Introduction
6:10pm – 6:40pm: TE NOHA NO ROTUI (Tarava Tahiti)
6:50pm – 7:20pm: TE PAPE ORA NO PAPOFAI (Tarava Raromatai)
7:30pm – 8:30pm: TAMARII PAPEARI (Hura Ava Tau)
8:40pm – 9:10pm: COMITE TIONA NO PUEU (Tarava Tahiti)
9:20pm – 9:50pm: TAMARII TEAHUPOO (Tarava Tahiti)
10:00pm – 11:00pm: O TAHITI E (Hura Tau)
Wednesday, July 15
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Awards of the Heiva i Tahiti
7:10pm – 10:50pm: TE FAREREIRA’A
Friday, July 17
6:00pm – 10:50pm: Evening winners
Saturday, July 18
6:00pm – 10:15pm: Evening of Taupiti i To’ata
Jury is chaired by Myrna Tuporo…
Jury for dancing :
Makau Foster-Delcuvellerie
Matani Kainuku (vice president)
Jeanine Ara Maru
Frankie Taae
Jury for singing :
Pierrot Faraire
Dayna Tavaearii
Myrna Tuporo
Jury for writing :
Denise Raapoto
Jury for the orchestra:
Carlos Tuia