VAIRANI DROST OPENS HER VERY OWN DANCE SCHOOL

written by Tiare September 19, 2016

VAIRANI DROST OPENS HER VERY OWN DANCE SCHOOL

For years, Vairani Drost has been one of the most recognisable faces of Ori Tahiti and now she has taken the next step and opened her very own dance school in Tahiti. Tahiti Dance Online looks closer at her story.

Photo taken from the Ori Atea facebook page

VAIRANI DROST has had an exceptional dance career over the years which has propelled her to ‘Ori Tahiti stardom around the world. Born of an English-Dutch father and a Sino-Tahitian mother who very much pushed her towards dancing at the age of 3 and a half because she was not able to dance in years before, she urged her daughter to take up the art. She started her dance apprenticeship with Tehara Huck then went on to be taught by ‘Ori Tahiti greats Moeata Laughlin (judge at this year’s Heiva) and Louise Kimitete from the Conservatoire. The latter being two strong personalities but had very different teaching styles that allowed Vairani to learn from the best and eventually develop her own style. In her own words Vairani describes Moeata as being ‘gentle and knowledgeable in the realm of technique and Mamie Louise an encyclopaedia of dance who deserves to be recognised, but she was also very hard’. A childhood filled with the support from her mother and teachings from ‘Ori Tahiti stalwarts.

As Vairani grew older she would grace the stage with the very best that ‘Ori Tahiti has to offer from Heikura Nui, O Tahiti E to Les Grand Ballets de Tahiti, and more recently Hei Tahiti and Toakura, she has also participated in more than 11 Heiva festivals. At the beginning she took hula classes which she says helped her perfect her Aparima technique. Her first Heiva was at 12 years old with Heikura Nui in 1995 and in 1996 at the age of 13 she would represent her group in the solo category. In 1998 she would present herself once more in the solo category with O Tahiti E and clench the second place title to which she says ‘I have never won the title but everyone still remembers me’. In 2000 she wanted to become an air hostess so she flew to Hawaii and continued her studies at BYU University where she would work at the Polynesian Cultural Center. A rich experience that would see her learn Hawaiian and Maori dances which would in turn enrich her own dance style. Her return from Hawaii would see her join iconic modern dance group Les Grand Ballets de Tahiti and would fly all across the world representing Tahitian dance and culture.

Photo taken from the Ori Atea facebook page

Now a mother of a two year old girl Vairani decided to quit her job and take the next step in her dance career and open up her very own dance school she would name ‘Ori Atea’ where she strives to teach a certain level of excellence when it comes to Tahitian dancing. She recalls her own path growing up and states that ‘dancing and teaching are not the same’ as she finds herself concentrating more on the technical side, keeping the arms and feet in the right position. Now that she has developed myriad dance techniques and styles she will be able to give back to the ‘Ori Tahiti community.

Photo taken from the Ori Atea facebook page

This year Vairani participated at the Heiva festival with dance group Toakura but next year is aiming to take her own dance school to the dance school Heiva which is an ambitious feat considering that she just started her dance school this year. A huge task ahead as she admits that ‘balancing work, choreography, the children and the costumes’ will be hard work. When asked if she would ever create a professional dance group she answers ‘probably not because she prefers to dance!’.