Siva Samoa

Siva Samoa is the Samoan term for a Samoan dance.[1] It is practiced in Samoa, and around the world by the Samoan diaspora.[2] There are siva schools in New Zealand,[3] Australia,[4] and the United States.[2]

Traditional Samoan dancing is one area of the culture that has been the least affected by western civilisation. It requires the dancer to retain grace; movement of the arms and hands are done so in a subtle but delicate manner. In earlier times, high chiefs or matais performed this special dance but modern day it is performed by a taupou. A version of Siva Samoa, called Mak Sa'moa, is a popular traditional dance style in Western Samoa.

Other forms of traditional Samoan dancing include the taualuga, siva afi, and sasa. There is also the māuluulu, Laumei, and Tautasi.

The most popular is the Siva Afi in which the dancer dances with fire on Samoan Knives, one, two, and even up to four knives can be used.

  1. ^ Jennifer Radakovich (2004). MOVEMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE SAMOAN DANCE TYPES: MA'ULU'ULU, SASA AND TAUALUGA (MA). University of Hawai'i. p. 6-7. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Lefaoali'i Dion Enari. "Siva Samoa in diaspora – Our connection home". The Coconet. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Tautua Dance School bringing Siva Samoa to Whanganui". New Zealand Herald. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. ^ "What largest Samoan cultural dance school means to diaspora on Gold Coast". ABC. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2022.