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Q: Looking for Maori Kapa Haka Dance Information ( No Answer,   3 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Looking for Maori Kapa Haka Dance Information
Category: Relationships and Society > Cultures
Asked by: wauger1979-ga
List Price: $15.00
Posted: 01 Mar 2006 13:50 PST
Expires: 09 Mar 2006 19:34 PST
Question ID: 702600
I am involved with an event for a second grade class called "Around
the World". In this event the class is to pick a country and emulate
the culture such as; food, song and dance. Our class chose New
Zealand. I wanted to integrate some Maori traditions and came across a
custom called Kapa Haka which is the performing arts of the Maori people.
However I am having a hard time locating specific information for
these dances. I need to find songs (music files would be ideal),
lyrics, costumes, and choreography for dance, all approrpiate for
8-year old children. I was able to find some information at the
maori.org.nz web site. However this site has been unavailable for some
time now and I need to get this information very soon. Can
you locate this information for me on the Internet or point me to some
reading material that contains these specifics on the Kapa Haka or
more specifically the Haka Powhiri (Maori Welcome Dance)? Thanks much.
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Looking for Maori Kapa Haka Dance Information
From: jh963-ga on 01 Mar 2006 15:00 PST
 
This page has a little information about one form of Haka (though not really 
appropriate for school children  :-)

http://www.nzallblacks.net/haka.asp

My admittedly basic information about the Haka is that it is a war dance.  I saw
it performed live last year in New Zealand.  It's a fierce, very much
"in your face" war dance.  There's nothing gentle or pretty about it. 
The basic message
of it is, as described by our Maori guide, "Yummm, you look delicious... "

Perhaps there are other forms of Haka that are different.

By the way, the New Zealand Rugby team does the Haka before each game as a way
to intimidate the other team.  

J.
Subject: Re: Looking for Maori Kapa Haka Dance Information
From: andersmar-ga on 01 Mar 2006 18:54 PST
 
Rotorua has sort of become an unoffical Maori Culture Centre. There
are many Kapa Haka groups based there and a lot of Maori culture
enterprises there that cater for the tourists. Try adding Rotorua to
your search and you may have more luck. There are many Kapa Haka
dances and songs that would be appropriate that intergrate both boys
and girls. Even the Haka that the All Blacks do is often
misinterperted as a war dance(as seen by jh963's comment) but should
be more seen as a "challenge" which is why the All Blacks do it before
a match. The story relates to a chief that was on the run and was
saved by a woman who hid him in a potato pit. He performed that Haka
as he exited the pit and realised he would live. The facial
expressions and body language are fierce and itimidating (is supposed
to be!)but I think if the story behind it is told I think the kids
would enjoy it! At a pinch, you could get the movie Whale Rider which
would give you a good visual sense of costume and song for
intergration for children. Good luck with your search!
Subject: Re: Looking for Maori Kapa Haka Dance Information
From: midwinter-ga on 07 Mar 2006 06:09 PST
 
Hi,

The term KApa Haka covers the whole spectrum of performing arts. Haka
is a challenge but has some very specific rules, incluing those
relating to who may perform it.

The information on these pages might be helpful:
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/?t=466

Particularly:
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/site_resources/EducationPDF/Maori_05Whakaraka.pdf

This tells you a  little more about Waiata and has some examles:
http://www.korero.maori.nz/forlearners/waiata.html

Maori language and culture is beautiful and complex and I think it is
great that children from across the world are given a chance to learn
about it.

You might also want to look a bit at how the language is pronounced:
http://www.korero.maori.nz/forlearners/basics/pronunciation.html

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