Title: HAKA TAU (war dance using war clubs - povai)
Creator: Tu’ifonualava Kaivelata
Artform: Heritage artform – creating artefacts and performing
Timeframe: beginning in September
Location: Mangere - Otahuhu
Project Summary:
This focus of this new project by Tui is f on the preparing and carving of the traditional war clubs (Povai) or (ME’A TAU - weapons). “The sole purpose of making these Tongan war clubs are to use them in a specific War dance which I have created myself and called the “Haka Tau”. This “Haka Tau” is different from the Sipi Tau because performance of Sipi tau uses hand movements only. On the other hand, the Haka Tau, will be a performance using the Tongan ancient war clubs (povai) hence the reason for its name.
Some of these clubs are carved from the roots of the trees while some are carved from the trunk and branches” - Tu’ifonualava Kaivelata 4 workshops with two hours each for the carving of the war clubs as well as introducing the use of the war clubs for the performing of the “Haka Tau” with the Core group. This will be the first introduction of “Haka Tau” as this has never been done before.
“With a proven track record in developing workshops that serve to raise awareness and maintain the significance of cultural heritage practices, we trust Tui’s latest endeavour will be just as valuable for his waiting list of participants and supportive audiences” – Arts Broker, Renee Tanner
