Dances | Ohana

Basics

Girl's Basics

Boy's Basics

Tamau: Pushing hips right and left. Make sure to keep your body lower, think of actually pushing out rather than up.

(steps: right, left, right, left)

Toma: double bump of the hip going from right to left.

(steps: right, right, left, left)

Afata: Using your hips to make a box by doing four hits. When you hit the front, you should be crunching your stomach.

(steps: right, back, left, forward)

Ami: Moving your hips in a smooth circle.

(steps: 1 right, 2 back, 3 left, 4 forward)

Fa'arapu: A faster version of an ami. Aren't as big, put an emphasis on crunching your stomach and not shimmying.

(steps: same as an ami but at a faster speed)

Ope: Angle one leg in front, bend the back leg(which should be underneath you). Push with the front leg to move your hip out, to the side, and back in a circle.

(steps: forward, side, back, center)

Pau Teis (Levels): One of the most common moves used in Tahitian dances. Initiate from the knees in an open and close motion. The wider the better!

Tui: A strong aggressive move. Wide feet, and lower stance until the shape of a house forms between your legs. One foot will stomp as the other kicks out. Small but powerful stomps, lift from the thighs. Arms perform a circular motion around the chest and shoot towards the opposite direction of travel.

Oh Ahs(kicks): Arms in fists at your hips. Feet shoot out one by one in a kicking out motion

'Amaha: Step toward the front with one leg and the other planted under you. Simultaneously hit with the same hip you are stepping with.

(steps: forward(step/hit), back)

Varu: Like making a figure 8 with your hips. Tuck(crunch) your stomach, go to one side with your hips, then towards the back, then centered, then tuck, side, back, centenaries. Make sure to take the same amount of time on each side, for example 2 on the right then 2 on the left.

(steps: tuck, side, tuck, side)

Tāhapehape: fa'arapu while turning hips to the right and left.

(steps: 1,2,3,4)

Ka'o: stay in one spot then sway your hips from left to right. As you do this, roll your feet and push your knees out and across the other knee to accentuate the hips.

(steps: 1 leg out, 2 leg in, 3, 4 up)

Hela: point and extend your leg to the front while pushing the opposite hip out.

(steps: point, bring leg back, point, bring leg back)

'Uwehe: stand with knees bent, lift one knee, plant it back down, then push out both knees quickly.

(steps: lift, down, 3, out)

Taparudus: Wide stance, and arms over on another near the chest area. Right over left arm. Feet move as fast as possible while keeping the steps in control.

Double Oh Ahs(Double Kicks): Arms in fists at your hips. First “kick” is a knee up motion which goes right into the second “kick” which is a regular Oh Ah. Alternate between the two feet.

High "Knees": Alternate between knees up. The higher the better.

Helas: Feet and corresponding arm go out on each count while the other foot stays in place and the other arm comes in towards the closest peck. Alternate between the two sides. Always the entire foot touches the ground when stepping out.

O Ei Heis: Alternate between the legs. One foot will lift up and on the beat, step into an expanding Pau Tei.

Hel O Ei Heis: if traveling right, the right foot steps towards the right in a hopping motion, then the left foot steps in front with its entire foot touching the ground, and finally bring the left foot into an expanding Pau Tei. For the Left side mirror the directions.

Ho O Pukas: Alternate move. Right foot steps back and the rest of the body follows, resulting in the body facing towards the right side, however the face always looks towards the front no matter which side, unless told otherwise. Mirror for left side.

Ku Eis(like a Tui): traveling move. If moving towards the left, the left foot stomps while the right foot aligns it’s heel with the left foot. Mirror for the right side.

Varu(figure 8): moving only the hips in an open stance. Make a figure 8 shape with your hips, as if you’re drawing with them. Start with upper right, lower right, upper left, then finish with lower left. Repeat. Arms vary.

Lele 'Uwehe: hela then add an uwehe.

(steps: 1 leg out, 2 leg in, 3, 4 up)

Omni(right or left): like Varus, only move the hips but in a circular motion, if told right, draw the circle with your hips and on beat, initiate towards the right. Mirror for Left side. Arms vary.

Koholo: sway your hips while stepping to the side, then tap you foot.

(steps: right, left, right, tap with left)

Kaholos(traveling move): Arms face towards direction of travel, if moving right, right arms points out while the left arm rests at its closest peck. The move initiates from the hips and with the hips, performs a swaying motion.

Tips:

Bend your knees as much as you can, it helps accentuate your movements and make them seem bigger
Push out your hips as much as you can with each move
Stay in a neutral(center) position. To find this, stand with your back against a wall and heels an inch away from the base of the wall. Bend your knees and move your hips forward so your entire back is touching the wall. Your spine will be in a straight life, this position once you step away from the wall is your neutral position
If you lean to one side(as in stretching) and bring your legs next to each other while your hip is still out, you can find how far your hip can fully extend
When doing an ami, fa'avrapu, ope, and afata, be more conscious that your both pushing your hips out AND crunching your stomach once you get to the front. Most people think of it as pushing your butt out to the back, but focus on tucking your hips forward and tightening your glutes once you get to the front
Have your feet a few inches apart and slightly turned out so your knees don't hit each other

Dance Routines

Hula Basics

Tahitian Basics

Girl's Basics dances

Basics

Girl's Basics

Boy's Basics

Tamau: Pushing hips right and left. Make sure to keep your body lower, think of actually pushing out rather than up.

(steps: right, left, right, left)

Toma: double bump of the hip going from right to left.

(steps: right, right, left, left)

Afata: Using your hips to make a box by doing four hits. When you hit the front, you should be crunching your stomach.

(steps: right, back, left, forward)

Ami: Moving your hips in a smooth circle.

(steps: 1 right, 2 back, 3 left, 4 forward)

Fa'arapu: A faster version of an ami. Aren't as big, put an emphasis on crunching your stomach and not shimmying.

(steps: same as an ami but at a faster speed)

Ope: Angle one leg in front, bend the back leg(which should be underneath you). Push with the front leg to move your hip out, to the side, and back in a circle.

(steps: forward, side, back, center)

Pau Teis (Levels): One of the most common moves used in Tahitian dances. Initiate from the knees in an open and close motion. The wider the better!

Oh Ahs(kicks): Arms in fists at your hips. Feet shoot out one by one in a kicking out motion

'Amaha: Step toward the front with one leg and the other planted under you. Simultaneously hit with the same hip you are stepping with.

(steps: forward(step/hit), back)

Varu: Like making a figure 8 with your hips. Tuck(crunch) your stomach, go to one side with your hips, then towards the back, then centered, then tuck, side, back, centenaries. Make sure to take the same amount of time on each side, for example 2 on the right then 2 on the left.

(steps: tuck, side, tuck, side)

Tāhapehape: fa'arapu while turning hips to the right and left.

(steps: 1,2,3,4)

Ka'o: stay in one spot then sway your hips from left to right. As you do this, roll your feet and push your knees out and across the other knee to accentuate the hips.

(steps: 1 leg out, 2 leg in, 3, 4 up)

Hela: point and extend your leg to the front while pushing the opposite hip out.

(steps: point, bring leg back, point, bring leg back)

'Uwehe: stand with knees bent, lift one knee, plant it back down, then push out both knees quickly.

(steps: lift, down, 3, out)

Taparudus: Wide stance, and arms over on another near the chest area. Right over left arm. Feet move as fast as possible while keeping the steps in control.

Double Oh Ahs(Double Kicks): Arms in fists at your hips. First “kick” is a knee up motion which goes right into the second “kick” which is a regular Oh Ah. Alternate between the two feet.

High "Knees": Alternate between knees up. The higher the better.

Helas: Feet and corresponding arm go out on each count while the other foot stays in place and the other arm comes in towards the closest peck. Alternate between the two sides. Always the entire foot touches the ground when stepping out.

O Ei Heis: Alternate between the legs. One foot will lift up and on the beat, step into an expanding Pau Tei.

Hel O Ei Heis: if traveling right, the right foot steps towards the right in a hopping motion, then the left foot steps in front with its entire foot touching the ground, and finally bring the left foot into an expanding Pau Tei. For the Left side mirror the directions.

Ho O Pukas: Alternate move. Right foot steps back and the rest of the body follows, resulting in the body facing towards the right side, however the face always looks towards the front no matter which side, unless told otherwise. Mirror for left side.

Ku Eis(like a Tui): traveling move. If moving towards the left, the left foot stomps while the right foot aligns it’s heel with the left foot. Mirror for the right side.

Varu(figure 8): moving only the hips in an open stance. Make a figure 8 shape with your hips, as if you’re drawing with them. Start with upper right, lower right, upper left, then finish with lower left. Repeat. Arms vary.

Lele 'Uwehe: hela then add an uwehe.

(steps: 1 leg out, 2 leg in, 3, 4 up)

Omni(right or left): like Varus, only move the hips but in a circular motion, if told right, draw the circle with your hips and on beat, initiate towards the right. Mirror for Left side. Arms vary.

Koholo: sway your hips while stepping to the side, then tap you foot.

(steps: right, left, right, tap with left)

Kaholos(traveling move): Arms face towards direction of travel, if moving right, right arms points out while the left arm rests at its closest peck. The move initiates from the hips and with the hips, performs a swaying motion.

Tips:

Bend your knees as much as you can, it helps accentuate your movements and make them seem bigger

Push out your hips as much as you can with each move

If you lean to one side(as in stretching) and bring your legs next to each other while your hip is still out, you can find how far your hip can fully extend

Have your feet a few inches apart and slightly turned out so your knees don't hit each other

Dance Routines

Hula Basics

Tahitian Basics

Girl's Basics dances