Curious about Tahitian dance, but not sure where to begin? Come discover ‘aparima!

If you’ve ever been curious about Tahitian dance but felt a little intimidated by the fast, energetic movements that we typically associate with Tahitian dance, the ‘aparima style offers a wonderful way to step into the world of Tahitian dance through storytelling, music, gesture, and expression.

In this two-hour workshop, we’ll explore ‘aparima, a graceful and expressive style of Tahitian dance in which the hands and arms help tell a story. You’ll discover how gestures, rhythm, movement, and music work together to communicate ideas, emotions, and images—and how a dance can become a story without words.

You’ll also get a taste of what makes Tahitian dance uniquely its own: its musicality, movement vocabulary, cultural context, and expressive quality. We’ll learn a fun and accessible choreography designed to be enjoyable for dancers of all experience levels. No previous Tahitian dance experience is needed, and you don’t need to be a high-energy dancer to participate.

Already dance Hula or Hawaiian dance?
You may recognize the joy of storytelling through the hands, but you’ll also discover some wonderfully different approaches to movement, music, and expression.

New to Polynesian dance?
Welcome! This is a friendly place to begin exploring Tahitian dance, with no previous dance experience required.

Come ready to move, learn, laugh, and tell a story through dance. Whether you’re completely new to Tahitian dance or simply curious to experience a different side of it, ‘aparima is an inviting way to begin.