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Their bodies glisten with perspiration and excitement as they step onto the stage. In front, two rows of Maori women - no expressions yet on their moko (tattoo) - lined faces - but an air of ethereal beauty and calm about them. Behind them stand two rows of fierce, dangerous looking warriors toting traditional taiaha (spears) and mere (adze clubs).
As a high-pitched karanga rises up over the group and down to the audience, the performers suddenly snap into action and deliver a fast paced, lilting chant about an historical Maori battle. Hands wiri (shake) and eyes pukana (widen) to punctuate the performance. The audience sits mesmerised until five minutes later, the chant rises to a final crescendo of feet stamping and loud exclamations and ends.
This is the passion typical of the performances at the biennial Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival. In the thirty years that it has been running, thousands of performers have sung, danced and executed intricate choreography with the same intensity.
Kapa Haka, the traditional Maori performing arts, is one of the few
cultures in the world where the performers must sing and dance as well
as express themselves through body language and facial expression.
While many other world cultures have musicians who provide the music, Kapa Haka uses mainly vocals to provide the music, with traditional instruments and usually two guitars or stringed instruments accompanying them.
Harmony is another factor of Kapa Haka. Very few groups, not performing the waiata tawhito (traditional chant), will sing in unison. Maori harmony is usually created when an item is first learnt and is often automatic. One person sings a note and someone else will hear another note and add it in.
Soon the songs come alive with beautiful harmonies created
spontaneously. Tamaki Chairperson, Kamera Raharaha, says it’s hard to sum up what Kapa Haka is all about to a novice, but she recalls how two Italians she met likened it to a soccer match, a rock concert and theatre all rolled into one.
“They said Kapa Haka had the passion of the soccer matches, the roar of the crowds at rock concerts, and the choreography, dance and drama of the theatre - but the best word to describe it was ‘Kapa Haka’,” says Kamera.
During their performance, teams must perform six compulsory items and one additional item. These are made up of whakaeke (entrance), waiata a ringa (actions songs), waiata tawhito (traditional chant), haka, poi and whakawatea (exit) and an optional choral item.
There are forty members in each group, and all have competed in one of
thirteen regional areas to make it to national level. Even teams from
Australia compete, having undergone the same elimination process
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as NZ based teams to reach the finals. Bonus points are given for originality and they must perform for up to 30 minutes (25 minutes if they do not have a choral item).
In 2002, the venue for the Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival will be held at Takaparawhau or Bastion Point in Auckland.
For
more information phone +64 25 279 2037 or go to:
www.kapahaka.org.nz
or
www.atmpas.org.nz,
email us at:
chairperson@tamaki.org.nz
Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival
Thursday 21st February - Sunday 24th February 2002
Takaparawhau - Bastion Point, Auckland.
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