I know it’s been a looooong minute since I’ve posted anything here – I’ve got a full explanation for that, coming up soon (JJW lol) but my friend just sent me this clip to check out and I fell in love all over again with the Samoan siva.
Well done to LOVE.KING for a great rendition of two of my favourite classic Samoan jams: Manu o le vaveao and Mo’omo’oga.
But wow.. Siva Palota from the Sivamua Dance Group really steals the show in this clip.
The taualuga dance is one of our favourite things to talk about because it’s such a showpiece of Samoan celebrations. Everyone’s got their own opinions about what a ‘good’ tualuga looks like, but the basic rules are that it should be graceful… and regal.
I have to say I’m really impressed by the tualuga siva in this video. See how her hands at times are barely moving? The regal poise of her body as she gracefully releases through her arms the story of the song…?
Okay… that’s enough of me trying to be a poet.
Enjoy!
Coming up soon (who?) hahaha chooohoooooooo
You know, its kinda hard to be graceful when one is dancing on moving sand, and on un-level rocks. I can only imagine if she slips and sits on a pointed rock.. ouch!!!..LOL
But man these day an age the taualuga is all mixed up with fa’ataupati and other sivas..lol
That just shows you how extra talented this girl is, to be that graceful even on the rocks loll but yessss… these days, sometimes the taualuga looks more Tongan or Tahitian even lol. Ehhh JJW. Thanks for keeping our comments moving 😀
I think you are correct Geek, she is an extra talented girl. but her gracefulness over rocks and sands made me believed that she must have slimy feet that conforms to any surface she steps onto. hahaha.. it really made for a smooth and graceful transition from one position to another so elegantly without stuttered breaking motion…lol but its my pleasure to keep comments moving.. lol
Ok dancing girl, please don’t kill me I’m just joking.
Love this clip and that lady’s dancing. The only problem is that she’s a mother. It should be someone who is young and pure to represent our culture especially when doing a taualuga dance.
If this was a ceremonial performance for a specific cultural purpose – for example, to celebrate a high ranking saofa’i or as part of a village’s malaga – then the purity of the dancer might be more scrutinized. But have you never been to a function where an older woman, particularly one who holds an actual taupou title, has been asked to close the event with her taualuga?
It is very simplistic to describe our taualuga as a dance reserved only for virgininal daughters of high chiefs – although I know where that assumption comes from. It’s easier to explain it that way, especially to tourists and anthropologists. In fact, this is how I used to explain it as well (probably even in one of my blog posts here lol).
But the fa’asamoa is a lot more complicated than that… also, this lovely lady is dancing in a popular music video, not a ritual gathering. Context matters. 🙂