TAUALUGA - particular dance for a Taupou or Manaia

The Samoan "taualuga" dance (taua: war; luga: above; translates as 'war in a higher place') reveals the importance of the number three in the Samoan culture. In the taualuga, a "taupou" (village maid or virgin) does a slow and dedicate dance. Surrounding her are the "aiuli" dancers who do animated dances, make lots of noise, and distracting the taupou from her slow dance - taunting her to move faster, and to copy them. The "taupou" should continue with her slow dance despite the distraction. 
The taupou wears a "tuiga" - a headdress made of flowers, shells, human hair, and three recognizable spikes. This is the basic form of the taualuga, which is demonstrated in a variety of ways by different performers. Most Samoan festivities that I attended culminated with a 'taualuga' performance where anyone can join, makes lots of noise, and contribute money. 
This dance is performed at the conclusion of most Samoan fiafias. 

This song describes what a taupou is when she is dancing and that she is dancing on her own as a soloist while you have an aiuli trying to cheer her on when she is dancing.  the taualuga is one many samoan dances but this particular dance is made for the taupou only it gives her a chance to show gracefulness and respect to her elders or community with in her moves.

TAUPOU costume.

TUIGA (Headpiece)

The tuiga is the headpiece that is worn by a Taupou/Augafa'apae (female) or Manaia (male), to show their status as the daughter or son of the highest chief in the village, or sometimes the whole district, when they perform the Samoan dance for dignitaries in prominent events, international/national/district/village gatherings, etc

'IE TOGA (fine mat)

The highborn son or daughter of a Samoan chief would dress in full festive regalia for a taualuga performance. This usually consisted of a traditional finely woven 'ie toga or fine mat, decorated with the prized feathers of the "sega" that was wrapped around the body.  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. 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, Both the dancer and the mats were generously anointed with scented coconut oil to give a cosmetic sheen.

'ULA NIFO (necklace)

'Ula nifo is made out of whale bones or sometimes a wild boar. it is worn during tradintional dances such as the taualuga, sasā, faataupati, ma'ulu'ulu. it is also made for male and female.

TAUPOU.

T A U P O U. 

The TAUPOU is a samoan lady or a samoan maiden.  In the samoan culture the Taupou is usually a daughter of a Matai or High Chief with in their own village or community.  The Taupou is also the main lady in the village she is the one who leads example for the other ladies as well, whenever the village or the community get together, the Taupou is expected to take care of the kava ceremony and also when it comes to serving food. when it comes to dancing the Taupou is expected to perform or dance for the village or community known as the siva samoa, with her help the taupou has a group of boys or a crowd who Surround her are the "aiuli" dancers who do animated dances, make lots of noise, and distracting the taupou from her slow dance - taunting her to move faster, and to copy them.  The Taupou is a single lady or girl who leads a big roll for other ladies when she is married she is no longer a Taupou she will be called AUGAFA APAE.

SIVA SAMOA (research)

S I V A . S A M O A

This is a tutorial that i found on youtube but also this what you will see in a samoan girl when she is dancing.  samoan dance will always be performed at many occasions such as birthdays, family gatherings, church fundraiser etc.  

Siva Samoa is the Samoan term for a Samoan dance. Traditional Samoan dancing is one area of the culture that has been the least affected by western civilisation. It requires the dancer to retain grace, movement of the arms & hands is done so in a subtle but delicate manner. In earlier times, high chiefs or matais performed this special dance but today it is performed by a taupou, a version of Siva Samoa. Other forms of traditional Samoan dances include the taualuga, siva afi, and sasa.

VISION BOARD.

VISION BOARD.

with this assessment ill be doing a collaboration with Kendra Leilua and for our main focus we will be doing siva samoa or samoan dancing. the dancing will be based around a samoan girl or TAUPOU. for this year or semester i will be focused on photography and my vision board shows that i will be focusing on my culture and also family based photographs showing away of my own identity.