Traditional Maori Dance
Created | Updated Oct 19, 2012
Dances are an important feature of Maori ceremonial and social life. All dances were traditionally known as haka, although today haka has come to mean vigorous, shouted posture dances performed by men. The best known of these is the haka taparahi, performed to great effect before international rugby matches involving the national team, the All Blacks. The poi dance is a graceful dance, always performed by women, in which a small ball is twirled in time to the music. The Maori had no drums, and percussion for dances was, and still is, provided by the stamping of feet. There were many flute types, but most have fallen into disuse. They also had trumpets of shell, wood, and bone, used mainly for signalling.
