MANOHIVA ON TOP AT THE HURA TAPAIRU
Last night during the finals of the 12th edition of one of Tahiti’s most exciting ‘Ori Tahiti competitions, choreographer Poerava Taea’s group Manohiva won the overall Hura Tapairu section and took out top honours. Tahiti Dance Online shares insights into this group.
©Maison de la Culture
MANOHIVA is one of Tahiti’s leading dance formations established in 2012 by Iori TUIHO and Poerava TAEA with a purpose to ‘produce, co-produce demonstrations related to the entertainment world and to Polynesian dance in particular; to disseminate its productions in French Polynesia, in the Pacific and in all countries; to participate in cultural performances and competitions. They have been particularly successful during the Hura Tapairu competition landing on the podium every time they participated and even won the grand prize in 2014 and now this year in 2016. They have even branched out to open a full time dance school in Japan.
©Maison de la Culture
©Maison de la Culture
This year Manohiva chose a legend linking the island of Tahiti and Huahine where the Queen of Huahine played by expert dancer Poemoana Teri’inohora’i was to marry a warrior prince from Tahiti played by O Tahiti E’s Temaruitai Tavaitai but things went north when the prince arrived in Huahine only to be the victim of vicious rumours of ugliness. The Queen without verifying the rumours ordered his execution only to find out later that the rumours were untrue. In the end the princes’ brother flew to the rescue and the bonds between Tahiti and Huahine were severed. The moral of the story is to never believe rumours, especially if it comes from the ‘coconut radio’ and to always check before you act. They reenacted the legend beautifully by portraying the Queens’ pigheadedness and the villagers’ scathing remarks which led to the situation at hand and the regret that subsequently ensued in a beautiful kaleidoscope of bold costumes and grandiose choreography including an opening with dancers swooping in from the crowd.
©Maison de la Culture
In the Mehura section Manohiva also managed to clench second place with their savvy performance of old classics to the voice of Tahiti’s own songbird Guillaume Matarere. The combination of 20 dancers burst on to stage in their lavender gowns and presented a vibrant dance show with swinging choreography including a section where some of the dancers came onto stage with woven ‘pakerere’ or palm tree shields to add to the drama of the performance. A very tight final losing only by a few points to Tahiti Ora’s Hia’ai group.
©Maison de la Culture
(Above middle: Iori TUIHO and Poerava TAEA, Manohiva’s power team)
After two weeks of competition and 27 groups participating here are the final results:
Hura tapairu prize:
1st : MANOHIVA de Iori Tuiho (480 000 Fcfp + un aller – retour Los Angeles offert par Air France + 1 nuit en suite offerte par le Tahiti Pearl Beach resort + magazine Matareva 2016)
2nd : MANAHAU de Jean-Marie Biret (prix de 355 000 fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
3nd : TAHITI HURA de Maheata Teavai (prix de 240 000 Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
Mehura prize:
1st : HIA’AI de Turia Temorere (prix de 200 000 Fcfp + un ukulele offert par Magic City + 1 aller-retour pour les îles Sous le Vent ou les Tuamotu Nord + magazine Matareva 2016)
2nd : MANOHIVA MEHURA de Iori Tuiho (prix de 150 000 fcfp Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
3rd : HEI TAHITI VAHINE de Tiare Trompette (prix de 100 000 fcfp Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
4th : MANA ATUA de Rita Ahu (prix de 50 000 Fcfp Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
Pour rappel, vendredi 02 décembre, la cérémonie de remises des prix avait permis de récompenser les groupes suivants :
‘Aparima category:
1st – MANAHAU de Jean-Marie Biret (200 000 Fcfp, une guitare offerte par Magic City et un massage de 50 mn au Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort + magazine Matareva 2016)
2nd – MANOHIVA de Iori Tuiho (150 000 fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
3rd – TAHITI HURA de Maheata Teavai (100 000 Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
‘Ötea category:
1st : MANOHIVA de Iori Tuiho (200 000 Fcfp, un brunch pour deux personnes au Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort + magazine Matareva 2016)
2nd : MANAHAU de Jean-Marie Biret (150 000 fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
3rd : TAHITI HURA de Maheata Teavai (100 000 Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
Pahu Nui category:
1st : TAHITI HURA de Maheata Teavai (100 000 Fcfp, un brunch pour deux personnes au Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort + magazine Matareva 2016)
2nd : AHUTUATEA de Tumata Vairaaroa (75 000 Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
3rd : TUIHEITEMARAMA de Merehau Buchin (50 000 Fcfp + magazine Matareva 2016)
‘öte’a ‘äpipiti : HEI TAHITI VAHINE – Taiana Mahinui et Nilda Taaviri
‘aparima ‘äpipiti : TAHITI HURA – Ranitea Delion et Heitiare Manate
