The cultural dance competition is always the highlight of Te
Maeva Nui (the Cook Islands constitution celebrations). We had ten competing
teams this year, nine of them representing the outer islands. The entries were
capped at ten so even if Rarotongan teams other than Puaikura had wanted to
take part they wouldn’t have been able to. However, many Raro residents joined
the teams representing their home islands. This sometimes meant the dance moves
weren’t as polished as they might have been but that was made up for by the costumes,
the obvious enjoyment of those on stage and enthusiasm of the audience.
This year’s theme was :Traditional language of our
communities and islands”.
This video is from Atiu’s kapa rima (action song). The kapa
rima is a story-telling dance and is usually very graceful with lots of hand
and arm movements.
Atiu’s was awarded a B grade.
The Ministry of Cultural Development will be selling a DVD
set of the whole Te Maeva Nui celebrations including full length videos of all
the dance nights. It should be ready sometime in September and can be ordered
from the ministry. Below is a list of the other DVDs available.
Ministry of Cultural Development Overseas Orders
(Postage is
for New Zealand –contact MOCD email: karioi@culture.gov.ck
for postage to other countries)
2011
Composers
Competition DVD + CD $40+$10pp
Dancer of the
Year 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Te Maeva Nui 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Mire Tama 2xDVD $40+$10pp
2010
Composers
Competition DVD + CD $40+$10pp
Dancer of
the Year 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Te Maeva Nui 4xDVD $50+$20pp
2009
Composers
Competition DVD + CD $40+$10pp
Dancer of
the Year 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Te Maeva Nui 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Miss Tiare 2xDVD $40+$10pp
2008
Composers
Competition DVD + CD $40+$10pp
Dancer of
the Year 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Te Maeva Nui 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Miss Tiare 2xDVD $40+$10pp
2007
Composers
Competition DVD $25+$10pp
Dancer of
the Year 3xDVD $45+$20pp
Te Maeva Nui 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Miss Tiare 3xDVD $45+$20pp
2006
Composers
Competition DVD $25+$10pp
Te Maeva Nui 4xDVD $50+$20pp
Miss Tiare 2xDVD $40+$10pp
2005
Te Maeva Nui 4xDVD $50+$20pp
TMN
Highlights CD $25+$5pp
Re-mastered from Videotape to DVD
A’Ti Vee
(1995) 1xDVD (3 hours) $50+$10pp
Katikatia
(1994) 1xDVD (3 hours) $50+$10pp