Marguerite Lai

Marguerite Lai is a French Polynesian dancer and choreographer. She is the leader of O Tahiti E, one of French Polynesia's most renowned dance troupes.

Lai is from Rangiroa in the Tuamotus, and is of Chinese-Polynesian descent.[1] She began dancing at the age of 12, after moving to Papeete.[1] In 1986 she founded the O Tahiti E dance troupe, which won the "best professional group" category at the Heiva competition four times, in 1987, 1998, 2005, and 2012.[2][3] The troupe won again in 2019.[4] In April 2017 she was responsible for a welcoming ceremony for the canoe Hōkūleʻa, which involved 200 dancers.[5]

In 2002 she was made a knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.[1] In January 2018 she was made a knight of the Ordre national du Mérite.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d "Marguerite Lai décorée chevalier de l'ordre national du Mérite" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Concours de Chants et danses : les résultats complets" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  3. ^ "O Tahiti E". Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Le souffle vital de O Tahiti E a enchanté To'atā" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  5. ^ "La pointe Vénus prépare l'arrivée de Hōkūle'a" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2023.