Samoan dance traditions reflect contact between Samoan culture and other cultures from the East and West. The slap dance called fa'ataupati is performed by Samoan male. The crowning attire of the taupou or manaia is the traditional headdress known as the tuiga. 2022 by Manaui Media Limited. We have a carton full of eggs-cellent egg puns and jokes for you to enjoy! For a graduation, it will go to the person graduating etc. Originally, the sasa captured the mundane acts of every day -- climbing trees, finding food, doing chores -- all told primarily with hand movements. Crack up your family and friends with these clever and harmless pranks! II, Polynesian Press, 2005, See Kramer; George Turner, "Samoa 100 Years Ago and Long Before," Adamant Media reprint, 2005; John Stair, "Olds Samoa, or Flotsam and Jetsam from the Pacific Ocean, Kessinger Publishing reprint, 2010, Freddie Letuli, "Flaming Sword of Samoa," Watermark Publishing, 2004, William Churchill, "Club Types of Nuclear Polynesia," Carnegie Institution, 1918, Brad Shore, "Sala'ilua," Columbia University Press, 1982. Wayne Luafalemana. The last piece of the tuiga was the "ie'ula" (literally, "red dress") which consisted of strands of tiny red collared lory feathers. The classic dances, that have survived more or less in their original form, tell familiar tales to an indigenous audience and are a spectacle of insistent rhythm and colorful costumes to visitors. This dance form has been adopted and adapted throughout western Polynesia, most notably in Samoa, The Kingdom of Tonga, Uvea, Futuna, and Tokelau. While the chant is often sung in traditional Samoan language, it can also be performed in English: The Manu Samoa, may you succeed in your mission. It is a combination of the Samoan Taualuga and the Tongan ula. The inclusion of the taualuga in the celebration of the Eucharist, especially at the presentation of gifts, signifies the willingness of the participants to present what is considered sacred to God. can you just make my heart race today lmaoAwww, you gots to help me suga!!! The Taualuga (unlike the Tongan Tau'olunga) is a solo performance. In Kihara's interpretationshe dances alone, confined in a Victorian mourning dressa . Contemporary taualuga performances sometimes commence with choreographies involving a hooked bladed implement called the "nifo'oti." Island Girl. The dance is accompanied by a singing chorus and a Fala (a rolled up mat beaten with sticks) or a Pate (a Samoan slit drum). All rights reserved. Catholic Samoan Offertory (Taulaga) St. Joseph's Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand. Wish I coulda been more help lol. For birthdays, the money would go to the person whose birthday they are celebrating. Share this item. [13] The earliest mention of "tuiga" refers to a headdress that was made with an intricately carved vertical "comb" called a "selu tuiga" (literally, "standing up comb"); this teeth of the "selu" were stuck into the hair at the base of the "foga," to which coconut midribs and long tropicbird ("tava'e") feathers were attached. The space in which dance is conducted has been interpreted as a microcosm of Samoan society. This dance is sacred to the Samoan people and traditionally only virgins were allowed to perform it. AtelierKihapai. Times have changed But to this day, Samoan girls the world over (yes even us geek girls) are taught from a young age the timeless virtues of the Taualuga dance itself: So, I was surfing YouTube looking for World Wide Taualuga dancing and Oh. To dance the taualuga is considered to be a great honor. Anklets and armbands made of ti leaves, sea turtle shell ("uga laumei" or "uga fonu"), coconut shell, and/or boar's tusks adorned the dancer and the ensemble was completed with a necklace of cut whale's teeth ("ulalei") or boar's tusks ("ulanifo"). No need to shop around. Upolu. This role is called the tuulafale. The assistance of older women is usually limited to only handclaps on the rhythm of the music. This dance form has been adopted and adapted throughout western Polynesia, most notably in Samoa, The Kingdom of Tonga, Uvea, Futuna, and Tokelau. The one-piece construction and gawdy decorations of most modern tuiga are a far cry from the stately, natural multi-piece tuiga of old Samoa. The word Taualuga in Samoan refers to the last stage of traditional house building in which the topmost rafter was secured to the building ( fale . 100+ Cute and Unique Girl Names That Start With S, Deciding on the right name for your girl can be difficult with so many options to choose from. Here are some of Tumateata's traditional inspired looks that she shared during the week below 24115 Tumateata is of Tahitian, Chinese and French heritage with her mothers family coming from Huahine and the Tuamotu Islands and her Chinese ancestry also comes from her mothers side. On her head she wears a little crown (tekiteki), which will enhance her head movements during the dance, consisting of feathers or some light plant material. Samoan oral history maintains that dance wear for aristocratic Samoans was also painstakingly crafted from other natural materials, such as skirts made of "sega" feathers ("iefulu" or "'ofu'ula") or dresses composed of flower petals and leaves ("la'ei" or "'ofumeamata"). lmaoIm supposed to be doing a Taualuga at my wedding but theres one problemI cant siva samoa!!!! In cases when the tuiga was not worn, the "pale fuiono" was usually worn with the "ie'ula" feather ornament tied to dangle from the back or side of the dancer's head. 8th April, 2022. [19] The single hook or prong was reminiscent of a goat's horn (goats were introduced to Samoa at the same time as metal blades) and so the knives became known as "nifo'oti" ("nifo"= horn, "'oti" = goat). One well known tradition is the tatau, or Samoan tattooing. His uncle worked as an instructor in Samoa, teaching cultural practices such as cooking, dance and garment-making. This dance form has been adopted and adapted throughout western Polynesia, most notably in Samoa, The Kingdom of Tonga, Uvea, Futuna, and Tokelau. But to this day, Samoan girls the world over (yes even us geek girls) are taught from a young age the timeless virtues of the Taualuga dance itself: Grace: A Taupou's movements are fluid, easy elegant and effortless. Each village in Samoa is autonomous and led by a council of matai referred to as the 'village fono.' The ancient Samoan dance involving a knife is called the ailao, which was choreographed to show off the power of a young warrior. Stretch Film Division. Historically, the taualuga was performed by the son or daughter of a village chief. [5], This dance is sacred to the Samoan people and traditionally only virgins were allowed to perform it. [17], Contemporary taualuga performances sometimes commence with choreographies involving a hooked bladed implement called the "nifo'oti." This dance is sacred to the Samoan people and should be performed with reverence. More like this. Often two or more "pale fuiono" were tied around the wearer's forehead. [8] On all other social occasions the taualuga is usually the last dance to be performed. From time to time, little nods within one beat (teki) or two beats (kalo) must be made with the head. [1] The type of dance is comparable with (some) Hawaiian hula or the Tahitian aparima . This has to be my favorite topic on 1Samoana so far. The Taualuga is a traditional Samoan dance, considered the apex of Samoan performance art forms and the centerpiece of the Culture of Samoa. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 103 followers. Singers, directed by a conductor known as "fuataimi" or "fa'aluma," generally sat in rows or concentric semicircles around the dance area. The Samoan taualuga is known for its graceful . In cases when the tuiga was not worn, the "pale fuiono" was usually worn with the "ie'ula" feather ornament tied to dangle from the back or side of the dancer's head. [1] The renowned Tongan version is called the tau'olunga . The purpose of this dance is to flatter or celebrate this high chief on various occasions, or to serve as the showpiece finale at the end of a set of dances performed by an entertaining group. The mak Sa'moa is one type, along with taualuga, siva afi, and sasa. Only one thing left for me to say: Malo lava le maauau! The "ailao" is performed before the actual taualuga as an exhibition of the dancer's skill, dexterity, grace, and coordination. Taualuga is venerated as the center of all dances within the culture and is reserved as the grand finale in many entertainment line-ups. The Manaia could perform the Taualuga if the High Chief had no daughters, but the performance of a chief's son was often in jest; a manaia's performance was not held to the same strict standards of elegance and refinement required of a taupou and did not hold the same sociocultural significance of that of the taupou. Samoan oral history maintains that dance wear for aristocratic Samoans was also painstakingly crafted from other natural materials, such as skirts made of "sega" feathers ("iefulu" or "'ofu'ula") or dresses composed of flower petals and leaves ("la'ei" or "'ofumeamata"). The dance was accompanied by choral music and simple percussion such as the slit gong or rolled mats that were beaten with sticks. Today virginity is not necessarily a prerequisite and although older adults and even teenage mothers are occasionally seen performing the final dance, a strong preference for unmarried performers is still the norm. Kiuussuuusssuuuu!!! The highborn son or daughter of a Samoan chief would dress in full festive regalia for a taualuga performance. The pe'a is what we call the Samoan traditional tattoo given to men. Samoan tatau is one of the few Polynesian tattoo styles that . The definition of the Samoan words that will be in this critical response are as listed below . The Taualuga is a traditional Samoan dance, considered the apex of Samoan performance art forms and the centerpiece of the Culture of Samoa. The daughter of a high chief in a village is known as a "taupou" or "sa'o'aualuma" when they perform public ceremonial roles; the male equivalent is known as the "manaia", or "sa'o'aumaga." While this is not required today, the majority of performers are still young, unmarried dancers. FJL Construction LLC. Taualuga is venerated as the center of all dances within the culture and is reserved as the grand finale in many entertainment line-ups. In those not-so-Christian days, when a taupou . This dance form has been adopted and adapted throughout western Polynesia, most notably in the Kingdom of Tonga, Uvea, Futuna, and Tokelau. Allison. This dance form has been adopted and adapted throughout western Polynesia, most notably in Samoa, The Kingdom of Tonga, Uvea, Futuna, and Tokelau. Many technical motifs of the tauolunga are derived from the ancient Tongan ula / faahi-ula / fahaiula. Around her neck she wears a black ribbon with a white cowry shell on it or not (puleoto). This contemporary version of the ancient tuiga also uses materials that were never used traditionally, such as glass mirrors, faux jewels and pearls, plastic mesh and chicken feathers. The Taualuga is a traditional Samoan dance, considered the apex of Samoan performance art forms and the centerpiece of the Culture of Samoa. Cookie policy. Traditional Samoan dancing is one area of the culture that has been the least affected by western civilisation. . There is also the muluulu, Laumei, and Tautasi. Often two or more "pale fuiono" were tied around the wearer's forehead. The crowning attire of the taupou or manaia was the traditional headdress known as the "tuiga." It is symbolic of the former significance that the taupou had in her role as the leader of ceremonial processions, dances, rituals, and war parties. Back in the old days, on top of being the daughter of a high chief, you also had to be unmarried and, um, virginal to perform this dance. The word Taualuga in Samoan refers to the last stage of traditional house building in which the topmost rafter was secured to the building (fale), signifying the completion of construction. The "lafo" custom, however, does not share the fundraising origins of money dances, although it does reflect the former tradition of presenting fine mats and tapa cloth at festive occasions that were concluded with the taualuga. The dance was accompanied by choral music and simple percussion such as the slit gong or rolled mats that were beaten with sticks. [16] Modern tuiga headbands also stray from the original design and the use of real "fuiono" nautilus shells is almost obsolete, even in Samoa, where the headband replicas are now fashioned with non-traditional materials such as sequins, rhinestones, and common shells such as cowries. The taualuga is another dance performed by the village chief. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. The Taualuga is a traditional Samoan dance, considered the apex of Samoan performance art forms and the centerpiece of the Culture of Samoa. "[4] However, Taupou in certain districts consist of important individual female names or titles under Samoa's traditional social hierarchy and form of governance, the Fa'amatai chiefly system. Luv ya topic! The daughter of a high chief in a village is known as a "taupou" or "sa'o'aualuma" when they perform public ceremonial roles; the male equivalent is known as the "manaia", or "sa'o'aumaga. The hair was washed in salt water and dyed with coral lime and citrus juice to give the hair a reddish-brown color, and the strands were tied together to form the "ie lau'ulu" which was tied to the top of the cone that the "lave" faceplate was tied to. The formalization of the dance as a distinct genre followed the introduction of the Samoan "taualuga" during the early 19th century and its institution among Tongan aristocratic circles (especially those associated with the Tu'i Kanokupolu lineages). TOILOLO GIRL IN THE VIDEO..VERY TALENTED FAMILY FROM MALAELOA..IT WAS TUPULAGA DANCE GROUP FUNDRAISER IN CALI..THE SAME FAMILY THAT HAS THE DANCE GROUP FROM MALAELOA PERFORMING ERWHERE.. Awwwwwnice topic here HGG. All i know is everyone started copying Lupe Aumavae and how she danced. . Polynesian Dance, Siva Samoa Ad vertisement by AtelierKihapai. No problem. The last piece of the tuiga was the "ie'ula" (literally, "red dress") which consisted of strands of tiny red collared lory feathers. Sorry so late! LOL @ Cherry awww I more of a fan than an expert in the taualuga I just love it! [24] It is a universal practice for modern Samoans to "lafo" -- throw money onto the floor or into the air above the danceror place money on the dancer in acknowledgment of her skill and status. The truth is that its origins have always been much debated, although as a general rule it is . The sasa can be danced while seated or standing, and the movements (which are based on ordinary village activities) are not set. There are exceptions when the taualuga is not performed as a finale, such as during a religious celebration or dedication of a church when the taualuga might be seen as a secular activity that might detract from the sacredness or spiritual nature of the religious observance. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. Once you reach level 60, however, the Dancer becomes available in Limsa Lominsa - Lower Decks. From favorite movie characters to cool career ideas, these creative charades ideas will get the whole family having fun. The third component was the hair ornament, essentially a large wig fashioned from the hair of female relatives. For this reason many people confuse the taualuga with money dances such as those performed among Filipino and some Latino and European communities. It is named for the standard tatau pattern that resembles a fruit bat, what we call a pe'a. . Check out these awesome spring break ideas for kids! The "ailao" is performed before the actual taualuga as an exhibition of the dancer's skill, dexterity, grace, and coordination. It is symbolic of the former significance that the taupou had in her role as the leader of ceremonial processions, dances, rituals, and war parties. It was made of coconut midribs that were wrapped with strips of cloths and fasteded to a faceflate made of turtle shell. [11] Both the dancer and the mats were generously anointed with scented coconut oil to give a cosmetic sheen. More information. The Ava is one of the most important customs of the Samoa Islands involving a solemn ritual where a ceremonial beverage is shared to mark most important occasions in Samoan society. Today, the 'ie'ula is generally made of large colorful chicken feathers that are dyed any variety of hues besides the traditional red and white. The manaia could perform the Taualuga if the High Chief had no daughters, but the performance of a chief's son was often in jest; a manaia's performance was not held to the same strict standards of elegance and refinement required of a taupou and did not hold the same sociocultural significance of that of the taupou. In Samoa, the tatau has a deeper, historical significance. . ) but I think u just need to find actions that feel comfortable to u. Last edited on 15 November 2022, at 02:26, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tauolunga&oldid=1121959564. by a conductor known as "fuataimi" or "fa'aluma," generally sat in rows or concentric semicircles around the dance area. [9] The mat was secured with a tapa sash called a "vala" or "fusi" and it was not uncommon for several layers of mats and tapa to be worn. Traditional styles include: Taualuga: The Taualuga dance is a graceful, prestigious dance often reserved as the grand finale for celebrations. Traditional Dance. Today, the 'ie'ula is generally made of large colorful chicken feathers that are dyed any variety of hues besides the traditional red and white. This dance form has been adopted and adapted throughout western Polynesia, most notably in Samoa, The Kingdom of Tonga, Uvea, Futuna, and Tokelau. Made in Samoa and grown around the Pacific, Im just a. Polynesian Culture. Leva ga eva i le one samoana ao lea faakoa kiliki mai i lea igu o le faleoo..hehe, aoooo, i just have free time now to evaeva little bit.But yeah, I used to entertain every night at the polyensian cultural center for the tourists..aiaiuli i le taupou or faaluma i le sasa.How about you dance the taupou ae aiaiuli ai authat way DA can watch you and learn from the pro. [6] The taupou held the role of "sa'o'aualuma" or the leader of the unmarried women of the community; she was accompanied by a retinue of her peers wherever she went and was constantly under the protective watch of designated "tausi" or older women of the village whose sole responsibility was to preserve the virtue and reputation of their chief's prized daughter. History of the Taualuga. During the day, the fale is used for chatting and relaxing. Similarities between Maulu'ulu and Samoan culture. The taualuga is always a solo performance accompanied by simple drum beats. Polyethylene Film / PE Sheet [1] The renowned Tongan version is called the tau'olunga. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Today, most fine mats are bordered with dyed chicken feathers, far larger and less delicate than the traditional mats now seen only very rarely in Samoa, and only in museums and private collections abroad. Every type of costume (teunga) has its own proper name. I learnt that nowadays it's more of a competition on who dances best, where in the olden days, there was a true meaning . [14] This seems to be the form of the most ancient "tuiga" before the "selu" comb and "tava'e" feathers were replaced by the mother of pearl shell "lave" and "sega" feathers, that has now been supplanted by mirrors, sequins and dyed chicken feathers. All Rights Reserved. Tau is War and Luga is above and as said together the whole word means War in a Higher Place. haha! Logan and his mum both felt his journey of reconnection to their Samoan culture had given him valuable insight. Tradition Samoan dance Taualuga Solopassport 724 subscribers Subscribe 199 views 1 year ago SAMOA My next love is dance. While taupou and manaia did indeed dance and twirl war clubs ("anava") when leading processions or concluding performances this segment should not be misconstrued as a component of the taualuga. Conversely, it is common for a parishioner dressed as a taupou to dance and lead the procession in some Samoan Catholic congregations. Often it is performed by a small group of girls, up to 10 or so, but can also be performed individually. Em. Maulu'ulu and Samoan culture have 6 things in common . [3], Traditionally, the Taualuga is performed by the son or daughter of a chief. My body doesnt do graceful my fingers are all malo, to the point where my Auntys were sayingseloa e kasasa ou kamai lima se samala e faagagau likeum ok can we not get violent over this? lmao, I have 12 weeks left, and Im still the same from last year duck-like hands, cant see, cant move my head, cant be graceful. Samoa Samoan Tattoo Samoan Dance Polynesian Dance Polynesian Islands Polynesian Culture Samoan Dress Samoan Women Beautiful People Beautiful Pictures Culture Day Samoan Taupou workin' that flow V Vickie S Taupou Samoan People Polynesian People Hawaii Hula Hawaiian Holidays Dance Attire Cultural Samoan Attire Creation by Micah Tiedemann Just accept . [13] The earliest mention of "tuiga" refers to a headdress that was made with an intricately carved vertical "comb" called a "selu tuiga" (literally, "standing up comb"); this teeth of the "selu" were stuck into the hair at the base of the "foga," to which coconut midribs and long tropicbird ("tava'e") feathers were attached. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Your movements are memories - of our beloved homeland and family, of our ancestors, of watching our elders celebrate - and they are as graceful and structured as they are involuntary. [20] Without the glottal stop the term "nifooti" means "dead tooth" or "dead horn," and could not be misconstrued to mean "tooth of death. So anyway, most people will agree that the most gorgeous dance to come out of the Samoan culture would be the Taualuga, a graceful solo traditionally performed by a Taupou, or daughter of a high chief. . In Western culture, tattoos are often considered a form of adornment or self-expression, rather like clothing styles. RT @Hereaux_KB: Hey @gmfb @Tua wasn't doing a "terrible" Hawaiian "surf move" in the video clip it was a traditional Samoan dance called the Taualuga I know y'all need material during this slow NFL news season but let's do a little research, eh @PSchrags ? The second component of the tuiga was the "pale fuiono," literally "the headband of nautilus shells," made of rows of pearlized nautilus shells tied to a woven headband. Overall, the girl's movements should be graceful and soft, as should be her whole body. Gee. It is considered the apex of Samoan performances and the centrepiece of Samoan tradition. The maulu'ulu is a group dance performed by female counterparts only, also the taualuga is the main Samoan traditional dance that is performed by a village chief (manaia) or village chiefess (taupou). It is also used to wrap up wedding receptions and festivals in many regions. The Taualuga is a traditional Samoan dance, considered the apex of Samoan performance art forms and the centerpiece of the Culture of Samoa. Rinathank youfor clarifying the diffrence. Anklets and armbands made of ti leaves, sea turtle shell ("uga laumei" or "uga fonu"), coconut shell, and/or boar's tusks adorned the dancer and the ensemble was completed with a necklace of cut whale's teeth ("ulalei") or boar's tusks ("ulanifo"). Samoa Traditions and Culture Introduction: Some of the unique traditions practiced in Samoa and in other Pacific island countries, such as Tongo or the Soloman islands, include special tattooing rituals, fire dances, and ' ava ceremonies. Other forms of traditional Samoan dancing include the taualuga, siva afi, and sasa. Without the glottal stop the term "nifooti" means "dead tooth" or "dead horn," and could not be misconstrued to mean "tooth of death." The dance is a sign of . But I can tell you now, Im getting there. [24] It is a universal practice for modern Samoans to "lafo" -- throw money onto the floor or into the air above the danceror place money on the dancer in acknowledgment of her skill and status. This is really interesting and important because although my dad moved to New Zealand when he was 18 years old, he still returned to Samoa to get his title and he became a chief, which makes me a daughter of the chief, therefore, there will be a time where I will need to perform a Taualuga on behalf of my dad and in results of learning all this new information, I am definitely looking forward to wearing a headpiece that my ancestors once wore. For this reason many people confuse the taualuga with money dances such as those performed among Filipino and some Latino and European communities. More like this. Fiji - Meke In Fiji and New Zealand, more lively performances take place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dieD54iLQSE. It starts somewhere deep inside your veins and can't be contained. [23] The elegant nature of the dance is emphasized by the contrasting "aiuli" or "fa'aluma" performers who, often spontaneously, dance alongside and behind the taupou with exaggerated gestures, loud vocalizations, and humorous antics. Today, the 'ie'ula is generally made of large colorful chicken feathers that are dyed any variety of hues besides the traditional red and white. It is symbolic of the former significance that the taupou had in her role as the leader of ceremonial processions, dances, rituals, and war parties. The taualuga is the Samoan traditional dance performed at special celebrations. 28 Feb 2023 04:28:25 The tauolunga is a traditional Tongan dance. One of most treasured heritage art forms in the Pacific is our dance - and expression of our social roles, status, our joy for life and our soul. The song itself and the movements . See, now, that's what I feel from Ms Toilolo's dancing up there. Fire was added in the 1940s after a Samoan knife dancer was inspired by a Hindu fire eater. The eyes are never to glance away from the viewers. It requires the dancer to retain grace, movement of the arms & hands is done so in a subtle but delicate manner. [19] The single hook or prong was reminiscent of a goat's horn (goats were introduced to Samoa at the same time as metal blades) and so the knives became known as "nifo'oti" ("nifo"= horn, "'oti" = goat). The taupou was raised from youth in the arts of hospitality, cultural rituals and ceremonies, chiefly protocol and demeanor, and the intricacies of the fine arts of dancing, the pinnacle of which was the taualuga.[7]. It also explores the role played by traditional Samoan dance in the creation and expression of this composite concept of self. 28 Feb 2023 14:29:10 [20] Without the glottal stop the term "nifooti" means "dead tooth" or "dead horn," and could not be misconstrued to mean "tooth of death. Costuming may include headbands or headdresses, coconut shell or boar tusk necklaces, and brightly dyed feathers. The taupou was raised from youth in the arts of hospitality, cultural rituals and ceremonies, chiefly protocol and demeanor, and the intricacies of the fine arts of dancing, the pinnacle of which was the taualuga.[7]. Traditionally, the taualuga is danced by a daughter or son of a high chief. In Samoan culture, all girls are taught from a young . Beautiful Tongan Bride Performing Traditional Samoan Taualuga Dance. 12 St. Patrick's Day Activities for Kids to Start the Shenanigans. The Taualuga is a traditional Samoan dance, considered the apex of Samoan performance art forms and the centerpiece of the Culture of Samoa. Taualuga is the last solo dance of the evening, reserved for the village princess or minister's daughter. Kava is a mild narcotic. Each village in Samoa is autonomous and led by a council of matai referred to as the 'village fono.' This one (below) is probably my favourite. . The word Taualuga in Samoan refers to the last stage of traditional house building in which the topmost rafter was secured to the building (fale), signifying the completion of construction. [1] The renowned Tongan version is called the tau'olunga. The last piece of the tuiga was the "ie'ula" (literally, "red dress") which consisted of strands of tiny red collared lory feathers. Why? So before landing in Samoa, I had requested my resort guys if I. It is sacred enough to certain groups of Samoans that, traditionally, only virgins performed it. Singers, directed by a conductor known as "fuataimi" or "fa'aluma," generally sat in rows or concentric semicircles around the dance area. However, history shows that even young women performed the ailao, quickly turning it into a performance tradition instead of a war cry. Synchronization to a drumbeat or the percussive striking of a rolled mat characterizes the sasa, a dance performed by men.