It’s an incredible milestone for a wonderful event that’s unique to Merced — the longest existing Tahitian dance and cultural festival outside of French Polynesia.
That’s right, the annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete will be celebrating its 45th anniversary this coming weekend, March 20 to March 22, inside the Cougar gym at Golden Valley High School.
The festival has come a long way since it first appeared as a solo event way back in 1979 at the APC Hall in Atwater. With community enthusiasm, the dance competition grew into an annual festival.
Today the Tahiti Fete features large groups of dancers, of all ages, entering various performance categories. The music is performed live by musicians, including top drum groups in the genre. And island-style food is available throughout the weekend as well as Polynesian craft booths straight from Hawaii and the Polynesian diaspora of California.
“We have about 1,500 people that come into,” says Auntie Becky, the founder of the event. “We fill probably four or five hotels, and probably a quarter million to half a million in revenue for the City of Merced every year that we do this.”
The theme of this edition is “Tutui Te Auahi,” or “Light The Fire That Grows.”
• Friday’s events begin at 5 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. They will showcase the Ahuroa, which is an elegant, synchronized dance performed by women of all ages to a sung Tahitian narrative composed in waltz time. 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, 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!
All the festivities will be held at Golden Valley, located at 2121 E. Childs Ave, in Merced.
Ticket information: Ages 13 and up, $25 advanced sale, $30 at door; children 5-12, $20 advanced sale, $25 at the door. Children under 4 get in free.
Tickets to the indoor dance competitions are limited.
For more info, go online to: kikiraina.com, or call: (209) 383-1435.