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Tahitian Dance Competition:
Te Mau Mahana Hiro’a o Tahiti
Above: Contestant LJ Mariteragi won first place in the solo 16-19 group and the overall Tahitian competition. Photos by Sam Sukimawa and Leisa Tapia
The Tahitan Dance Contest, Te Mahana Hiroa Tumu O Tahiti, took place at the Polynesian Cultural Center Saturday, July 17, from 9:30 am until 2 p.m., at the Pacific Theater. The top contestants performed in a Dance Off and at the Award’s Ceremony. Categories for the competition were divided into two main divisions: 4-12, and 13-25+. Within those categories, dancers were divided into smaller age groups: 10
Ke Alaka‘i
4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, and 25 and up. Dancers were also divided into gender categories. LJ Mariteragi, sophomore in anthropology at BYUH, won first place in the male solo for age group 16-19 and overall senior division winner. He said, “I’ve been dancing since I was 7 or 8 and the coolest part for me is that I get to perpetuate my own culture while representing my family.” - Ca r r ie Collingr id ge