The Origin and History of Maori War Dance

Maori war dance originated in Hawaii and Polynesia.

Maori war dance is a group dance with movements, slaps, shouts and grunts. This kind of dance is different in various Pacific regions, for example, there are slightly different HAKA dances in Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa and other countries. Because this kind of dance is generally a preparation for Maori men to fight, people call it war dance. In fact, this is a ritual dance of local Maori, which can be performed by both men and women, and different movements have different meanings in Maori society.

it can be used to welcome distinguished guests, or to perform at major achievements, major events and funerals. In New Zealand, Maori war dance, also known as HaKa, has become an important part of New Zealand sports culture. In the competition, athletes will use this dance to "deter" their opponents.

Introduction to the characteristics of Maori war dance

1. Action characteristics: Maori war dance includes actions such as glaring, sticking out tongue and flapping limbs, all of which are to show the soldiers' strong physique and mental state.

2. Facial expressions: Dancers will make rich facial expressions during the performance, such as glaring, glaring and sticking out their tongues, so as to increase the dance effect.

3. Sound element: In addition to body movements, dancers will also make loud roars, usually Maori slogans.

4. Widely used: Although it was originally danced for pre-war preparation, Maori war dance has now become a performance dance in celebration, used for recreation, welcoming guests or in specific ceremonies.

5. Social influence: In the field of sports, especially in the New Zealand rugby match, as a way to motivate players, Maori war dance is usually performed before the game to improve the morale and cohesion of the team.