The Haka
The Haka is a traditional Maori dance from New Zealand. There are many different perfomances of Hakas, about thousends! The Haka is a dance played by various tribes and cultural groups. For example the New Zealand's Rugby team named The All Blacks. Since years, each game start with the dance.
The Haka was adopted by the New Zealand national rugby union team. Since 1905, the team performed the dance at every local and international match. Over the years, the team danced the Haka, named "Ka Mate", the most. In the early decades of international rugby, the rugby team also performed other types of Haka. The Haka sometimes was specially composed for a specific tour. Since 2005, they had occasionally performed a new Haka, named "Kapa o Pang". The performance of the Haka has been called "the greatest ritual in world sport."
Haka is the name of a group Ceremonial dances of the Maori's from New Zealand. With this dance people try to call the gods (Ancestors).
The origin of the Ka Mate started with an event happened in 1820. A Maori-Leader called The Rauparaha,had to flee for a hostile enemy tribe. During the flight the Rauparaha kept repeating the words: Ka Mate, Ka Mate (I die, I die). Eventually, the Rauparaha reached a friendly tribe and asked the leader, which is also a friend, to hide him. The leader accepted and the Rauparaha was safe.
When the Rauparaha was sure he would live, he repeated the sentence: Ka Ora, Ka Ora (I live, I live)
The lyrics of a Haka aren't sung, but said. The song is always aimed for the gods. Next to the text, people screaming war cries.
The dance itself consists of a series of signs. Starting with a knee bend spread stand. Also the people try by a downward movement to harnass the power of the gods into the warrior.
The Haka "Ka Mate" in general opens with a set of five preparatory instructions shouted by the leader, before the whole team joins in:
Leader: Ringa pakia! (Slap the hands against the thinghs!)
Uma tiraha! (Puff out the chest.)
Turi whatia! (Bend the knees!)
Hope whai ake! (Let the hip follow!)
Waewae takahia kia kino! (Stomp the feet as hard as you can!)
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate (I die, I die)
Team: Ka ora' Ka ora' (I live, I live)
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate (I die, I die)
Team: Ka ora' Ka ora' (I live, I live)
All: Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru (This is the hairy man)
Nāna i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā (Who caused the sun to shine again for me)
A Upane! Ka Upane! (Up the ladder, up the ladder)
Upane Kaupane" (Up to the top)
Whiti te rā,! (The sun shines!)
Hī! (Rise!)
The Haka is a traditional Maori dance from New Zealand. There are many different perfomances of Hakas, about thousends! The Haka is a dance played by various tribes and cultural groups. For example the New Zealand's Rugby team named The All Blacks. Since years, each game start with the dance.
The Haka was adopted by the New Zealand national rugby union team. Since 1905, the team performed the dance at every local and international match. Over the years, the team danced the Haka, named "Ka Mate", the most. In the early decades of international rugby, the rugby team also performed other types of Haka. The Haka sometimes was specially composed for a specific tour. Since 2005, they had occasionally performed a new Haka, named "Kapa o Pang". The performance of the Haka has been called "the greatest ritual in world sport."
Haka is the name of a group Ceremonial dances of the Maori's from New Zealand. With this dance people try to call the gods (Ancestors).
The origin of the Ka Mate started with an event happened in 1820. A Maori-Leader called The Rauparaha,had to flee for a hostile enemy tribe. During the flight the Rauparaha kept repeating the words: Ka Mate, Ka Mate (I die, I die). Eventually, the Rauparaha reached a friendly tribe and asked the leader, which is also a friend, to hide him. The leader accepted and the Rauparaha was safe.
When the Rauparaha was sure he would live, he repeated the sentence: Ka Ora, Ka Ora (I live, I live)
The lyrics of a Haka aren't sung, but said. The song is always aimed for the gods. Next to the text, people screaming war cries.
The dance itself consists of a series of signs. Starting with a knee bend spread stand. Also the people try by a downward movement to harnass the power of the gods into the warrior.
The Haka "Ka Mate" in general opens with a set of five preparatory instructions shouted by the leader, before the whole team joins in:
Leader: Ringa pakia! (Slap the hands against the thinghs!)
Uma tiraha! (Puff out the chest.)
Turi whatia! (Bend the knees!)
Hope whai ake! (Let the hip follow!)
Waewae takahia kia kino! (Stomp the feet as hard as you can!)
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate (I die, I die)
Team: Ka ora' Ka ora' (I live, I live)
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate (I die, I die)
Team: Ka ora' Ka ora' (I live, I live)
All: Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru (This is the hairy man)
Nāna i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā (Who caused the sun to shine again for me)
A Upane! Ka Upane! (Up the ladder, up the ladder)
Upane Kaupane" (Up to the top)
Whiti te rā,! (The sun shines!)
Hī! (Rise!)