Tau'Olunga

 History of the Tau'Olunga

• The tau'olunga in Tongan and taualuga in Samoan.
• The dance originates from Samoa and is one of the most striking symbols of the true Tongan heritage.
• The movements of the tau'olunga  first came from the style of dancng in Samoa.
• It is a descendent of the ancient Tongan ula, that was a group dance performed by chiefly daughters.
• The dance is comparable with some Hawaiian hula or the Tahitian 'aparima.
• The tau'olunga was a stand still dance with only hand and arm movements, until queen Solote changed it to moving the body as well, in 1950.

About the Tau'Olunga

• The tau'olunga is a cultural dance in Polynesian cultures.
• It is a solo danced by virgins on their weding day, but is also danced during special occassions.
• It is rare for married or older women to dance a tau'olunga, a well as men. Men do not dance their own tau'olunga but may assist the girl by mimicking the movements. This mimicking done by men makes the girl seem even more striking.
• Tau'olungas now are still being performed for weddings and special occassions, but the have also become competitive. Dance groups are competing in the states and all over the world.
• Many people seem to forget their culture as they move to the states, but there are still several who stay true to the ilands and what their ancestors have done for hundreds of years.
• As long as the culture is not forgotten, the tau'olunga will always be important to the history of Polynesians throughout the world.

Dress

• Girls dress in a costume (teunga)
• The girls are dresses in a wrap around dress, usually made from ngatu or kie(hand woven leaves), which is a type of mat. It is then decorated with shiny cloth or beautiful flowers.
• The dress covers just above the breasts and goes to the knees, leaving the arms and legs bare.
• Usually women cover up their legs in traditional long tupenus or pule'tahas. This gives them a chance to show off some leg.=D
• The dancer wears the oil to enhance their beauty. Women out oil on their exposed skin. In the Tongan mind, it makes the dancer seem goddess like. The shiner you are, the more the oil enhances your beauty.
• Anklets and bracelets are also worn. As well as the teki.
• The tekiteki is a head crown that enhances head movement throughout the dance. It is usually made of feathers and/or plants.

Performance

• As we sais earlier, the tu'olunga is performed mostly when a bride is performing at her wedding. Her skin is oily and shiny. As she is dancing, family members will join and dance nect or near her after they have put money on her. The money (takapale) is a reward to the girl. Tongans believe that the shinier you are, the better. You look goddess like.
• The dance itself consists of handmovements that interpret the meaning of the song.
•  You  will often see the knodding of the head (teki) throughout the dance.
• The dancer will NEVER stop smiling. *Milk the audience for money;D
• Always look to your movements, or foloow, never move out of your range.
• Knees are usualy together and bent(taulalo)