Young members of the South Pacific Dance Company perform for leaders and guests at the Merced City Council meeting on Monday night. They were invited to promote this weekend’s annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete at Golden Valley High School.
Young members of the South Pacific Dance Company perform for leaders and guests at the Merced City Council meeting on Monday night. They were invited to promote this weekend’s annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete at Golden Valley High School.
Young members of the South Pacific Dance Company perform for leaders and guests at the Merced City Council meeting on Monday night. They were invited to promote this weekend’s annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete at Golden Valley High School.
The annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete — one of the few authentic Tahitian dance competitions outside of the Pacific Islands — will celebrate its 40th anniversary on the weekend of March 22-24 at Golden Valley High School in Merced.
Incredibly, the local event is actually the oldest ongoing Tahitian dance competition outside of Tahiti. However, it also serves as a cultural event featuring the ceremonies, customs and cuisine of the Polynesian world. Expect plenty of vendors at the event offering clothing and jewelry, to instruments and gifts, and also delicious island food specialties.
In a recent letter to the founder and organizer, Rebecca Ka’awela Manadic of Merced, Tahiti’s Minister of Culture wrote: “This outstanding event is unique in its format and durability, furthermore, it has featured an increasing and astonishing number of participants. … Your continued success has transformed this event into a major cultural powerhouse, helping perpetuate the art of ‘ori tahiti and music.”
Manadic, a native of Oahu, Hawaii, became a dance performer at an early age, and went on to tour internationally. She moved to Merced in 1974, and started a small Polynesian dance troupe known as “The Rainbow.” She still is the lead instructor for the South Pacific Dance Company in Merced.
On Friday, March 22, the events will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. They will showcase a dance presentation by the tamari’i (children) as well as the ahuroa, which is an elegant, synchronized dance performed by women of all ages to a sung Tahitian narrative composed in waltz time. The Masters and Grand Masters categories will also be competing. The evening is completed by the Maeva Merced Pageant, where beautiful young men and women contend for the Maeva title and to represent the festivities.
On Saturday, March 23, beginning at 9 a.m., solo dancers will compete in both eliminations and finals, with ages ranging from 4 to as long as they can continue to shimmy. Categories will be in both beginners and professional, with both men and women competing. During lunch, there will be a “Tamari’i Exhibition,” showcasing tiny dancers that are too young to compete, but still love to dance in costume and have fun. Then the Group Drumming competition, composed of the most accomplished Tahitian Drumming groups in our area will take the stage.
Sunday morning will feature the First Place winners of the professional soloists who will compete for the Overall Vahine (female) and Tane (male) “Best Dancer Awards.” Also, Couples will take the stage to perform a choreographed duet that highlights their colorful regalia as well as dancing ability. The afternoon continues with Tamari’i (children), Amateur and Professional groups demonstrating their skills in the marvelous ‘Ote’a drum dances and the lively Aparima of Tahiti Nui.
The festivities will be held at Golden Valley High School, located at 2121 E. Childs Ave, in Merced, California.
TICKET INFORMATION
Adult, 13-up: $20 at door
Child, 5-12: $17 at door
For more info, visit online at kikiraina.com.