IA ORA TE HURA
Created in 2018 and directed by Poerani GERMAIN
IA ORA TE HURA is a dance group created from the association with the same name. This association aims to promote and bring to life Polynesian culture, in particular through Tahitian dance. Its office is composed of Poerani GERMAIN the president, Titaina TAURUA the vice-president, Vaiana ACHILLE the secretary and Raihei GERMAIN the treasurer.
IA ORA TE HURA plans to participate in various cultural events such as the Hura Tapairu or the Heiva i Tahiti for example.
Hura Tapairu 2018
For our participation in Hura Tapairu 2018, we formed a group exclusively made of girl dancers. The theme chosen was Arioi Vahine (Tetuahutia te arioi fanaunau), which told the story of an arioi who became pregnant and chose to sacrifice her life as an arioi rather than her child. The conductor was Tamatea Teraa, the aparima were composed by Teiva Viaris and the texts were written by Yann Mamatui. For its first participation, IA ORA TE HURA won the 2nd prize in the aparima category, the 3rd prize in the Pahu Nui competition and a special prize for melodic composition.
Heiva i Tahiti 2022
For our first participation in the Heiva i Tahiti in the hura ava tau category, we have chosen the theme "Mana, te iho o te ora" which means "Mana, the essence of life". This theme is a presentation of certain moments in which Mana could have been used or felt by Man in ancient times and today. The theme and all the lyrics of the songs were written by Te'ura Camélia MARAKAI, the conductor and the composer are the same as for the Hura Tapairu 2018, namely Tamatea TERAA and Teiva VIARIS. The boys' choreographies were developed by Taero JAMET and the costumes are by Mana Fact'Ori. Merehau BUCHIN was our 'orero and Eugène KAVERA our ra'atira ti'ati'a. Many other people participated in our preparation for the Heiva and without them nothing would have been possible: Terehe, Vaitea, Vaitia, Ben, Jonathan, Jordan, Vairani, Heiana, Nouchka.
We were 37 dancers, 59 dancers, 21 musicians, 3 singers, 12 extras, 1 orero, 1 ra'atira, so a total number of artists of 134.
For its first participation in the Heiva i Tahiti, IA ORA TE HURA won the 1st prize in the hura ava tau category, the prize for the best imposed orchestra, the prize for the best free orchestra and the prize for the best musical composition. Mauruuru to all the artists and to the office of the association.
Photo credits: Sylvie Wongk, Kevin Manhen Photography, Heiva i Tahiti.
Heiva i Tahiti 2024
Thanks to the first prize won in the Hura Ava Tau category at the Heiva i Tahiti 2022, we were able to participate in the Heiva i Tahiti 2024 in the Hura Tau category. We presented the theme "Marama" which means "Moon". The show first presents a mythological part with the birth of the moon, its imprisonment, its release, the attribution of its place in the 2nd heaven, its lust for the gods... and a more realistic part with the close relationship between the phases of the Moon and nature which was the origin of the establishment of the Polynesian lunar calendar, "the tārena mā'ohi". The theme thus shows the importance of the moon in the lives of the Polynesians because it has influenced and still influences their various activities (fishing, agriculture, etc.).
Poerani GERMAIN is at the origin of the theme but its author and that of all the lyrics of the songs is Toanui SALMON. The orchestra was conducted by Teraivetea TEMAURIURI and Tetu TAHI, and the aparima were once again composed by Teiva VIARIS. The choreographies were created by Poerani with the invaluable help of Nuutea CHANG, Vaitia KAVERA and Vaileia MOLLARD. The ra'atira'a ti'ati'a was Hugues OOPA. Merehau BUCHIN performed all the 'orero again. Also, all the costumes were designed by Nanihi CROTEAU.
For this first participation in the "professional" category we won the 3rd Hura Tau prize, the prize for the most beautiful fresh costume, the prize for the most beautiful traditional grand costume, a special prize for the writing of our theme and finally our dancer Noah MENDELSOHN was crowned best dancer of Heiva i Tahiti 2024.
Photo credits: Mata iTi photography, Puairau Marthial, Mike Leyral, Heiva i Tahiti.