Hivinau



Opposing circles of male and female dancers surround the drums, and offer a stock phrase in response to the ra'atira hivinau's heightened speech. At turns the opposing circles face one another.

Although an old dance, it is not traditional, the name hivinau probably derived from a yell by the officers of any passing European ship: "Heave now!", and the subsequent turning of the wheel with anchor chain by the crew.
Imagine 2 circles, one of men, another of women, turning around the centre axis where the musicians sit, as whether the anchor is to be heaved. Every time a male and female dancer meet each other, they turn to each other, yell: "Hiri, haʻa, haʻa" and may perform some knee or hip shakes respectively

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