Dance of Wallis and Futuna

In Uvea (Wallis) and Futuna culture and modernity can co-exist together. In particular, dance is considered to be part of everyday life. You see dance in fakahaha'aga (festivals), to'oto'oga (ceremonies or celebrations), or just for pure pleasure. In Uvea, the term faiva is used for dance, where as the term mako is used. In Uvea and Futuna there is a katoaga which is only celebrated with the visit of chiefs and if lucky, with the Lavelua (King). As the years go by, dance and culture is still alive and well in Uvea and Futuna. The normal fakapale is given to the dancers for their magnificent dance. The following dances of Uvea and Futuna below are just some of the dances, or are the main dances seen in Wallisian and Futunan culture.

Eke

The Eke is a stick dance performed by both genders. The Eke started travelling during the Tongan overlordship of Uvea and Futuna in the 14th century. In Tonga they have a same but different stick dance called Soke. The dancers are armed with sitcks about four feet [1.2m] long formed two lines facing each other. During the dance the pair of male and females struck the sticks together in a manner similar to quarterstaff sparring.

Kailao

This is the most popular of the implement dances seen in Uvea and Futuna. It's a club dance performed without a song 'to the rhythm of a wooden pate (gong) or an empty kerosene tin. Two parties of male dancers approached each other from opposite sides of the mala'e (village green), usually in columns of twos. During the dance they went through 'a drill of vigorous twirling, swinging, and slapping motions' with the clubs.

Tāpaki/Tu'upaki

The Tāpaki (Futuna) or Tu'upaki (Uvea) is an implement dance using broad, flat paddles (paki) which are twirled, tossed and slapped by the dancers. In Futuna, Tāpaki is performed only by men, where as in Uvea it can invlove females to perform with the males. The Tāpaki/ Tu'upaki is performed in honour of the chief (aliki) of a village, his ancestors and their deedss The dance is originally from Futuna but has spread to Uvea and also to Tonga where they have a similar paddle dance called Me'etu'upaki.

Niutao

The Niutao or Fakaniutao (Futuna) is a dance that was named after one of the islands of Tuvalu. This dance can be performed either by men alone, women alone or the two together. It follows the elements of the Tuvaluan Fātele, but slighty more gracefully rather than extreme gestures. The accompanying song is europeanised, and the tempo is usually accelerated from beginning to end.

Ma'ulu'ulu

The Ma'ulu'ulu is the most popular of the dances in Wallis and Futuna. Mixed male and female dancers formed several rows or ranks, with just one row surrounding behind, all facing the audience. They were without implements and used fw steps, making an impression mainly by their perfect synchronisation and the grace of their hand movements accompanying the song which (as in Samoa) was invariably Europeanised.

Soamako

The Soamako has been desribed as an informal type of dance accompanied by continuously accelerating music, the final speed of which was 'limited only by the energy of the singers and dancers'. Generally the dancers themsleves did not sing but were accompanied by a lologo (chorus) grouped with wooden drums, guitars, ukuleles and nafa (drum with the top made of black rubber). The song usually consisted of couplets, repeated until the dancers grew weary. As well, there is an informal type of Soamako of today, described as a 'combat dance' between two groups of dancers who enter from opposite sides alternately and try to better the performance of their opponents.