By: KyRae Kogianes, Donovan Horspool

Most Haka is generally performed by men but women can perform the Haka as well.

Types of Hakas:Whakatu Wae WaeTutu NgarahuPeruperu

The Maori Legend claims that the Sun God had a son, Tane-Rore, with one of his wives who embodies the essence of summer. The Maori consider the quivering appearence of the air on a hot summer day to be a sign of Tane-Rore dancing for his mother. The rapid movement of the quivering is the foundation of the Haka.

The Haka is a dance that is meant to be very intimidating.

The Peruperu haka is the “War Haka” because it was originally performed by warriors before battle in order to intimidate (demoralize) the enemies.

In this form of the Haka the dancers have their eyes wide open and put their tongues out in rapid movements, which makes it look like a snake is about to strike, the men leap and squat, they beat their hands on their chest and thighs and stomping their feet. They use their bodies as musical instruments.

The chant and grunts they do with the dance are used to amplify the effect of intimidation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI851yJUQQw

The Whakatu Wae Wae Haka doesn’t use weapons and they don’t jump around like in the other forms of the haka. This form is a more upright dance than how they squat and hunch over in the peru peru. It is a more fluid movement and they stomp their feet more, instead of jerky sharp motions like the peruperuWomen are more likely to dance in this form.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN2Z4DS0beg

This dance is performed with weapons, it is similar to the peruperu, instead of intimidating the enemy it is used as a precursor to war and it is a ritual of welcoming war. This dance signifies if they are ready to go to war or not.The dancers move side to side and use intimidating motions and faces just like the peruperu.

The haka is generally performed before going to war and right before the battle, but their are some that are performed for weddings, funerals, great achievements, and now for entertainment.

Usually the dancers paint their faces with war paint to be more intimidating.

They wear these skirts (piupiu) because thats what they started out wearing in the beginning, they use to be made out of native grasses.

They use their bodies and mouths as their instruments.

I don’t notice any oppression of New Zealanders but when most people think of someone from New Zealand they think of Rugby.

A huge cultural evolution that was brought over to the united states was rugby and a lot of rugby teams have picked up performing the Haka before their games to intimidate their “enemies”.

The Polynesian culture goes perfect with the American culture. They take pride in family and the dance from their ancestors. They have been able to blend in well with Americans because we have a lot of the same values.

The American culture has adopted the Haka mostly in American football teams.

The Haka was originally collective to Polynesians because it shows pride.

As it has become more well known in America, it has changed into a performance type of dance.

The dominant/privileged class has not acculturated this dance.

Other people are involved in this dance.For football teams, the entire team does the

haka, whether they are Polynesian or not.Polynesians are excited to share their culture

and traditions with other people and they are accepting to those who want to participate in it.

There are social groups that think they are better because they’re white.

Some people make fun of this group for the things they wear and the way they dance.

We learned to appreciate the pride they have for their cultures and traditions.

The American culture and the Polynesian culture are similar because the family is really important. We also have traditions that symbolize the family heritage.

As contemporary people living during the same time, many Polynesians are actually now American citizens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haka

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/252091/haka

http://synkroniciti.com/2013/08/29/warrior-dance-maori-haka-peruperu-from-new-zealand/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN2Z4DS0beg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI851yJUQQw

http://www.waikato.ac.nz/students/home-and-away/2010/05/kapa-haka-the-haka-not-only-a.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haka_performed_by_non-New_Zealand_sports_teams