August 3rd, 2009 | 
Author: Cook Islands Dancing
The Cook Islands Dancing displays are renowned throughout Polynesia for their expression and sensuality. Many of the dances are based on ancient stories and tell a tale of love or adventure and in some cases both.
The gifts of music, song and dance play a large part in the culture of the Cook Islands and native children are introduced to them at a very young age.
The Dances
Each of the 15 islands that make up the Cook Islands nation has a slightly different dancing technique which makes their performances unique. Children begin to dance
as soon as they can walk and the islands compete in a festival once a year for the honour of being the best.
In general, the women dance with a swaying hip movement that slowly goes from side to side. They dance with flat feet – which is hard to do while swaying the hips – and the shoulders should be kept absolutely still. In fact girls and young women are judged on how still they keep their shoulders while dancing – the stiller they are the better dancer they are considered to be.
The men meanwhile dance with slightly bended knees which they knock together in time with the drum beat. They also have a grinding movement and overall their dance is very jerky when compared to the smooth swaying of the women. The two dances are completely opposite but when they are performed together they produce a dance which is simply described as spellbinding.
The Music
Cook Island dancing is always accompanied by music and on most occasions there are singers as well. The singers and drummers from these small islands are considered by many to be the best in Polynesia and they are known around the world
for their perfectionism. The singers tell traditional tales in the native language while the drummers and other musicians accompany them with a rhythmic beating of their drums. The music is described as being hypnotic and when combined with the swaying dancers and the general atmosphere, Cook Island dancing really is something to behold.
The Costumes
Cook Island dancing wouldn’t be complete without the traditional costumes. The skirts, which are worn by both men and women, are made from cotton material or bark cloth covered with grass, long green leaves and dried bark strips. Around the waist there is a titi which is much like a decorated belt. These are often adorned with shells, seeds, bright leaves and colourful flowers.
The headdresses are also made from bright flowers and are very ornamental. They are easily the most prominent part of the costume and the men regularly have feathers attached for added height. The costumes can take months to make, especially if they are for an upcoming festival, however once made they can last for years.
Where to watch Cook Islands Dancing
Many of the resorts on Rarotonga – the main island – and Aitutaki hold dance performances each week throughout the year. People staying at the resorts can watch for free however non-residents have to pay a small admission fee. For this fee though, they are allowed to watch the performance and take in the time-honoured atmosphere with the music, costumes and a traditional home-cooked feast. Many of the resorts encourage visitors to join in with the dancing so that they can get a feel for the movements and the sensuality of the dances.
Rarotonga is also home to the Cook Islands Cultural Village. This is an educational village where visitors can learn about the history of the Cook Islands and the rituals that are performed there. There is a section of the village which explains the history of the dances and what some of the movements mean. This allows visitors to better understand the dances when they see them performed.
Conclusion
Cook Islands dancing dates back thousands of years however the performers today show just as much expression as the ancestors that created the unique movements. Music and dancing play a large part in the lives of the Cook Islanders and they are arts that the inhabitants will always be known for. Tradition is also sacred to the people of the islands and the tradition of the dances is one that will continue to be passed on with each new generation.
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Rarotonga, one of 15 far-flung islands of the Cook Islands southern group, is considered the Cook Islands capital. It may just be a dot on the world map, but this island is a living testament that such a beautiful paradise still exists in this day and age.
Rarotonga’s name comes from two words, ‘raro’ which means ‘down’ and ‘tonga’ for ‘south’, thus the term “the down south island”. Popular because of its toothed peaks and subterranean valleys, Rarotonga is surrounded by a crystal aquamarine lagoon that reaches the reef found in the north of the island.
Since the geographic structure of Rarotanga is mainly volcanic in nature, worn volcanic peaks shrouded in intense vegetation dominate the island’s interior. With the entire island being 32 km in circumference, travelers can easily stroll around the entire island, or take a leisurely ride.
Rarotonga is the most populated island in the Cook Islands group, and a favorite tourist destination, along with other islands such as Aitutaki. Rarotonga is home to white sandy beaches along the outer reaches of the island, mountain tracks, and native flora and fauna, which tourists, hikers, and eco-tourists alike will love. Cook Islands Diving is certainly one of the most anticipated island activities in Rarotonga with the whole island seeming to be just a simple yet stunning resort, just waiting for visitors to explore.
Travellers can also visit the famous cross-island walk that goes by Te Rua Manga, the well-known needle-shaped rock found within the island. Rarotonga is also famous for its Cook Islands Dancing, which shows fast hip turns, twirls, and titillating dance steps and is widely regarded as the finest in the South Pacific.
Other activities that guests can participate in during their stay include scuba diving, fishing, snorkeling, horseback riding, and trekking. Nightlife can also be fun, watching island shows and hanging around at night at the sea wall that goes around the runway’s end. Rarotonga also has many restaurants that can definitely satisfy the guests’ taste buds with mouth-watering and delectable cuisines.
Rarotonga is undeniably one of the most striking islands on Earth. One of its major selling points that attract visitors is the fact that the island is not a contrived, fabricated, and artificial tourist destination spot designed just to catch the attention of the travellers. Rarotonga, per se, is a real place, inhabited by real people, with real South Pacific culture.
An introduction to the South Pacific paradise of the Cook Islands. This first video features the capital island of Rarotonga. Find out more at http://www.cookislands.org.uk – the only independent, non-commercial guide to all of the Cook Islands.
Duration : 0:4:10
If you are not a certified diver we have a wonderful place here for beginners: The protected Aroa Marine Reserve, located direct in front of our dive centre.
This is the best spot on the island to go see fish while you do snorkelling. And we have the luck to be located here… There we do the Lagoon Dive/Intro Dive. you will get a proper introduction here in our dive centre how to use your equipment and we will teach you some signs (because we have to communicate under water).
Then you just walk over to the beach with your instructor and enter the water. Discover the marine reserve from below within the safety of the reef, because it’s just 2-3 meters deep. there you will have 35 to 50 minutes to relax, get used to your gear and have fun…
After that you have the possibility to do some skills so you are able to go forward and do a outer reef boat dive, but it’s your decision. the boat dive will be limited to 12meters together with a Padi Instructor. But you can decide it step after step….
Duration : 0:2:31
Aitutaki is listed in some books as one of the 50 places everyone should see before they die. The island and its stunning, turquoise blue lagoon has been the location for the US TV series “Survivor Cook Islands” and the UK TV series “Shipwrecked”.
This video takes you on a tour of the island and that lagoon. This is the third in a series of short films about the Cook Islands. Find out more about the islands at http://www.cookislands.org.uk – the only independent, non-commercial guide on the internet to all of the Cook Islands
Duration : 0:4:25