Learning a Haka
iPod (320x240) [5:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (309) Bigger (640x480) [5:32m]: Download (115)So after a few performances for us, the troupe decided we should perform for them! But before we could, we needed to be taught. They divided us, the guests, into three groups, and taught each group a different performance piece, then brought us back into the main hall for a little friendly competition for the entertainment of our hosts. My group got to learn a haka!
I gave my camera to my Maori photographer friend, Jo Tito, who shot great footage of us learning to haka. I love that she also shot the crowd observing us - it looks like they had a good time! I had about ten minutes of great footage and only cut it down to 5:30 - mainly because I want anyone from our group to be able to use this video to re-learn this haka. If our Aotearoa friends visit the U.S. we can welcome them in proper style!
Don’t worry, I’ve got all the final performances coming up next, and then some!
You’ve go to hand it to this “Sharing Cultures, Connecting Communities” international travel course. Where else would you find this diverse group from the U.S. all playing together, cooperatively, in such a spirit of love and respect. There are over seven cultural groups represented, including Choctaw, Euchee-Creek, Navajo, Mexican, Spanish, European and Maori. And I know I’m forgetting Jim’s tribal heritage - one of the tribes whose lands straddles the Canadian/U.S. border if I recall correctly.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
That was…AWESOME!! I think that should be your new twitter pic, that yell, with you tounge sticking out!!
December 14th, 2007 at 4:09 am
Brilliant! I expect to be greeted like that if I ever get to Phoenix.
December 15th, 2007 at 11:32 am
That’s pretty cool! Looks like everyone was having fun too!
December 16th, 2007 at 12:33 am
[…] [1:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Bigger (640×480) [1:49m]: Download You saw us learn it, now see us perform our haka for the group. I think we gave ‘em their money’s […]
December 17th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Ohmigod that was excellent! Pure joy on everyone’s faces!