Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-10-28
THE TAHITI FESTIVAL
DR.. EDwORDS DESCRIBES FANTASTIC
DANCES OF TAHITIANS.
Native Dancing a Muscular Movement Of
Entire Body, Similar to Delsartean
Exercise Of Civilized People.


ly the most interest in this festival
would center around the dancing. but
the dancing of the natives of Tahiti
has lost its charm, if it ever possessed
any coult we'll imagine that if
these dancers-men and women-were
dressed in their original native cost
umes the dancers would take on a
phase that would lend much interest
and charm, but under French dispen-
sation there has come change Just
why the French who have done every
thing in their power to corrupt the nat
ives, should have sudden fit of prosper
ity and compel them to dance in long
robe that completely hid the rythm
of movement is not plain, but such is
the case. and all of the dances were
much like tie jumping of dummies.
Native dancing here is a muscular
movement OF the their body, remind
ing one of Delsartean movements so
much in vogue among civilized peo-
pie few years ago. 1t resembles in
slight degree the famous hula hula
dance of the Hawaiians, but has MOTH
ing that is either immodest or immor-
al in its suggestiveness. was told,
however, that the language of the
leaders who constantly talked to the
judges. would not bear translation.
but it could not 5e understood, so
none were shocked
Eight clans in all participated in
the competition, and, with the exoep-
tion of one clan, all of the dancers
were men. These were dressed in
white trousers, with colored shirts
and caps. the leaders being gorgeously
arrayed in dresses and head dresses
made of beautifully colored grasses.
trimmed with shells. Women who
ffanfad5 f wore taR&a rWhitta ittattA. ttdAfsAt tnaff
heads being adorned with wreaths of
long, feather like plumes, resembling
papas grass. In their dancing move
ments the women moved gracefully
about to the accompaniment of the
music OF tin cans, tin pans and drums
and bottles. At intervals this grace
full movement ceased and they slipped
down from their waists q hempen or
grass belt until it caught their dress
es about the knees. With clothing
thus confined they performed mus
cular movement of the hips which
they well displayed by reason of this
tightening of the dresses.
Each of the dances had some signifi-
canoe and was supposed to represent
some myth or historical event Of the
clan. The three most interesting
dances we're the bird" the SHARK,
and the "stool" dance In the first
young man encased in framework
representing large bird, hoped
about and caused much amusement by
his antics. The legend, as explained
to me by Tati Salmon, showed that
even in the South Seas the myth of
Jack and the Beanstalk had its being.
The bird belonged to a great giant
who committed depredations on the
surrounding people. He was invul-
nerable when awake but when he
slept he could be killed. He had an
unfortunate propensity for constant
sleeping, and the bird kept guard over
him so that when his enemies came
near it would awaken him. The.
dancing OF the other members of the
clan was supposed to represent the
efforts of the people to kill the giant.
The shark dance was the story of
the terrible struggle of two natives
against a monster shark. The fish was
moved about by two young men con-
cealed in its interior, and was finally
overcome by the fishermen. who then
received the plaudits of the other
dancers.
The stool dance was a beautiful
rythmic movement of the BODY and
feet OF the dancers who sat on stools
in two rows. They sang the tune
Dixie" in accompaniment to their
movement. While these rhtymic
movements were kept up the two
leaders. man and a woman, danced
mp and down between the lines of|
those on the stools.
In all these dances there was an &C.
compartment of music on drums,
cans, pans and pieces of bamboo and
bottles. When the women danced
there was a pleasing innovation when
two women stepped ont in front o
the dancers, one playing harmonic.
and the others using bottle. Th
hafmonica carried the air and th
bottle kept mp a harmonious accom-
paniment.
Il