- 'aparima
:"This is an article about a Tahitian dance. For the New Zealand river with this name see:
Aparima River ."The "okinaaparima" or "Kaparima" (
Rarotongan ) is a dance fromTahiti and theCook Islands where the mimicks ("okinaapa") with the hands ("rima") are central, and as such it is close to thehula orTongan "tauokinaolunga". It is usually a dance for groups.There are two types of "okinaaparima": the "okinaaparima hīmene" (sung handdance) and the "okinaaparima vāvā" (silent handdance), the latter being performed with music only, and no singing. The music is often played on the guitar or the Tahitian okinaukulele.Often a clown enters the stage who 'helps' the real dancers by making all kind of exaggerated gestures, much to the merriment of the public. The stories depicted by the dance are taken from daily traditional occupations or ancient myths.
Unlike the other Tahitian dances, this one is more often performed with the dancers dressed in "pāreu" and "maro". It can also (especially the "okinaaparima vāvā") be performed seated, much like the
Tongan "māokinauluokinaulu".References
Patrick O'Reilly; La danse à Tahiti
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