ORI TAHITI NUI COMPETITION 2016

THE ORI TAHITI NUI COMPETITION was created in 2012 by Tumata ROBINSON and Manouche LEHARTEL, ‘Ori Tahiti Nui Competitions’ is open to dancers and dancers of all nationalities, individually or in association with local Tahitian dance companies and schools or Outside French Polynesia. Tahiti Dance Online takes a closer look. 

Photo taken from the Ori Tahiti Nui competition Facebook page.

The fifth edition of the Ori Tahiti Nui Competitions offers competitions in four disciplines. It is addressed to soloists in ‘otea (children’s category and four adult categories), to the grouping of five dancers (aged 16 years minimum) in the “Mehura”contest (slow aparima) with the grouping of five artists, Couples and duets with the otea couple or duo (competitors aged at least 16 years).

This competition is open to dancers and dancers of all nationalities who come with a school, a company or alone. “We realized that our dancers are good, but that they do not know how to improvise, while abroad the ori tahiti dancers are exclusively judged on improvisation and technicality. We wanted to create a contest to judge the technique and the ability to improvise of our dancers, “confide Tumata and Manouche.

Sunday, November 27th, after the nomination of the best dancers of the four categories. The latter will compete for the title of best dancer Tane and Vahine of the Ori Tahiti Nui Competitions. The winners of the titles will automatically participate in the Ori Tahiti Nui World Championship which will take place that same evening in the gardens of Le Meridien.

Photo taken from the Ori Tahiti Nui competition Facebook page.

Teraurii Piritua and Hirohiti Tematahotoa will be the judges of the second edition of the Ori Tahiti Nui World Championship. This international competition was created by Tumata Robinson and Manouche Lehartel to allow the best dancers of Ori Tahiti, all nationalities confronted, to compete. Thus, only the dancers who have won the first prize of a Heiva in Polynesia or in the world in the last three years can participate. The competition is based on pure improvisation, a ‘Otea and a Mehura for the vahine, the tane will have to present two dances to Otea and a dance of their choice (‘ Otea, Haka, Aparima …).

Last year Mélanie Amen, a Californian dancer, was crowned best dancer of the Ori Tahiti World Championship. “This year we would like to see the best Polynesian dancers and the best dancers from Heiva in the last three years sign up to participate and if we want Polynesians to win, they have to compete, “the organizers conclude.

Photo taken from the Ori Tahiti Nui competition Facebook page.

Here are all the results from the competition so far:

Couples category won by Pauline SILLINGER et Tehere TETUAITEROIMEHURA
Judges choice: TAVAKE REREATA

Dance school category:
1st Prize: HEREANA from HEIRAGI dance school