Ori tahiti Solo & COUPLES Dance Rules

After difficult several years fighting the Covid pandemic and putting the Tahiti Fete on hold, we are so pleased to announce the 26th Tahiti Fête of San Jose. The event will be on June 30 to July 3rd, at the historic and beautiful San Jose Civic Auditorium. 

Once you submit your Ori Tahiti Dance Competition application, Fête update letters will be sent to you as well as information on sponsor hotels, dressing rooms, registration, tickets, etc. 

The deadline for Solo Applications is May 31, 2023. After this date late fees will apply. Thank you 

again for your participation in the 2023 Tahiti Fête of San Jose! 

COMPETITION DATES AND TIMES

Ori Tahiti Solo & Couple will be held on Friday June 30 to July 3, 2023, at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on all three days. Both competition and awards will be on the same day.

ORI TAHITI SOLO  & COUPLES COMPETITION

1. Contestants will be given their solo numbers on Friday, June 30, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. by the side entrance of the San Jose Civic Auditorium. The exact location and map will be provided as we move closer to the Fete. Group leaders may pick up Solo numbers from me, if they are in town the evening before, or at the Civic Auditorium on June 30th.
2. Our house drummers will provide all drumming for finals. Eliminations & Finals will be at the SJ Civic on Friday, June 30th. Timing is approximately 1 ½ to 2 minutes.
3. Hipbands or hip heis will be permitted for Finals. It should not be more than 4” wide.
4. All soloists will be given free admission to the Tahiti Fete on Friday, June 30. They must wear their Solo Number to gain in and out entry after the Solo Competition. Soloists will check in through the dancer’s entrance.
5. For Eliminations dancers must perform in pareo. Length of the pareo should not be below the knees, however, know that judges also dislike very short pareos. Headpieces are optional. will be permitted. Three to four dancers will perform at a time, totally impromptu. No i’is or hand-held objects.
6. Winners of the finals are those who receive the four top highest scores in each division.
7. Overall Tane and Vahine Winners will each receive $500 + a round trip ticket to Tahiti via Air Tahiti Nui.
8. No solo limits from any group. Independent dancers may also enter the competition.
9. We are featuring two new categories Anuanua (open) category, and Couples. Couples can be same sex.
10. Our New Open Category – Anuanua, encourages and invite all dancers who feel no category actually suits them. Note that the Anuanua category will eventually have an appropriate name change.

Solo Categories and Divisions are as follows:

• ‘Ote'a Vahine –Tamahine (girls) & Tane - Tamaroa (boys) 6-10 years old
• ‘Ote’a Vahine & Tane - Intermediate      11-15 years old   
• ‘Ote’a Vahine & Tane - Lower Junior        16-20 years old   
• ‘Ote’a Vahine & Tane - Upper Junior      21-26 years old   
• ‘Ote’a Vahine & Tane - Senior        27-35 years old   
• ‘Ote’a Vahine & Tane - Masters         36-44 years old  
• ‘Ote’a Vahine- Pa'ari        45+ years old  

New Category!

• 'Ote'a Amui - Couples- any age 
• 'Ote'a Anuanua (open gender category)- 18+

AWARDS

• First Place Vahine/Tan/Anuanua/Couple each receive a Trophy or Medal + $300
• Second Place Vahine/Tan/Anuanua/Couple each receive a Trophy or Medal + $250
• Third Place Vahine/Tan/Anuanua/Couple each receive a Trophy or Medal + $150

Overall Winning Tane & Vahine will each win $500 

Overall Vahine and Tane winners between the ages of 18-35 will receive a round-trip ticket 

to Tahiti. Courtesy of Air Tahiti Nui 

SCORING

100 points is the maximum score possible in the solo division. Winners will be the top four (4) with the highest scores in their category. The following information is intended to clarify and give some examples as to the criteria that judges will use in evaluating your performance.

• Technical areas: Variety and difficulty of dance steps, confidence, endurance and    knowledge of traditional steps and fa’arapu. Try to perform at least 5 traditional steps. 

• Artistic areas: Gestures, grace and elegance, creativity, facial and body expressions, ease and comfort with the dance. Able to follow the drumbeats, the dance is totally impromptu.