Research Paper

While traditional Native American dance and the Polynesian dance are both unique to their cultures, a developed comparison reveals they share many similarities in technique and meaning. In this essay, I will evaluate these similarities along with the differences that make each dance unique to its people and their culture.

“Dance is a poem in which each movement is a word and is the most hidden language of the soul” this was found searching the web for what others felt the meaning of dance meant to them. An interesting fact about cultures and dance is that dance was used to express how they felt and emit their own expression of themselves.

One thing that both Native American and Polynesian both have in common are they both believe in the spirits of their ancestors. When the Polynesian's danced the Hula they thought that if done incorrectly that something would happen and may turn disastrous while Native American dance specifically for a reason and believed if they asked for thanks for necessities they would acquire it. Both dances were created for one reason and one reason only to ask for help spiritually.

Native American culture and the way they danced were entirely for their Gods, basically as an offering to show how important they were and how much their Gods were believed in. As the Polynesians too were spiritual and wouldn’t dance until an elder blessed the area in which would be danced upon, they also danced to perform for their people as entertainment.

Now looking at how each culture’s learning criteria. Polynesians didn’t just show people who wanted to dance some moves and sent them on their way. No, they needed to understand the meaning of Hula and enrolled select individuals into a “Dance School” where they would be taken from their community and given comprehensive training so they have the honor to dance But looking at the Native American’s, one doesn’t need specific training to dance and anyone who chooses to dance can do so.

Music and dance to Native American’s is very important, it’s not only to speak to their Gods but it’s used to show their history and educate the youth. They believe that it could be used medicinally to cure sickness and used in celebrations as well. Alongside dancing, instruments are used a lot when offering thanks to their Gods, they just go hand in hand with each other. The drum is most important instrument they possess; it holds a special use within their community. It stands for the earth’s heartbeat; it’s an essential piece of their culture.

Another fact that both Native American dances and Polynesian dances have in common is that the westerners didn’t agree with the type of dancing both of these cultures participated in. The West didn’t like the Polynesian hula dancing because they didn’t wear much clothing while they performed so they considered that immoral. The west also believed that the Native American drums symbolized hostility. In response to the West, both cultures created a dance that would show positivity and acceptance. The Native Americans shaped a dance called the Grass Dance which comes from the Modern Powwow and the Hula ‘Auana of the Polynesians that tourist now come to see in Hawaii.

Powwows are relatively new to the Native American Culture after Native American dance was abolished in 1820 by the British puritan missionaries. This new ceremony was added in the mid-19th century when tribes were being moved and being segregated with other cultures along with different tribes. These type of powwow started with a color guard and dancers of both men, women and children. This ceremony included dance competitions with prizes. Powwows placed usually in a public area big enough for a large performance. These ceremonies can last for days on end.

Like the Native American Powwows the Polynesians also had ceremony like contests. There are four type of dances are presented during the Heiva contest: the ote’a, the aparima, the hivinau and thepa’o’a. The ote’a is the most popular traditional dance. It is currently danced by women but used to only be danced by men and is distinguished by spacious and sudden moves.

The Polynesian Hula is not only just a dance, it also included loud yelling or chanting (which is called a melee) throughout the dance. As it has been explained above, the hula dance tells a story. It also passes on traditions of their cultures so younger generations understand what is being conveyed throughout the dance.

Dances that involved a lot of body movement that includes bent knees, with head, arms and legs moving in all different directions are both Native American dance and Polynesian dance. It’s found that they both include symbolic movements that represent things that are around their natural habitat ie: moving arms like waves and spreading out arm and circling them like eagles.

Polynesian Hula is very gestural, almost like sign language. The way their hands played along side dancing, and the dancers would frequently would be seated for the performance, moving just their hands. You would not see this during a Native American performance because they use mostly foot movements, especially stomping and jumping.

Polynesian Hula has more flexible hand movements where as Native Americans have mostly sudden variations within their dances. The only hula performance that does in fact have more of a stronger movement is the men’s hula kihiko, they use both sudden and sustainable hand movements depending on how the story is being played out in the dance.

During this research paper I have established a lot of differences and similarities between the Polynesians and the Native American. I felt the most significance from both of these interesting cultures are the hand and body motions that are used within their dances, a large reason why I brought them back up in my paper. Also, the importance of keeping their culture and beliefs alive by passing the dances down from generation to generation.

List of References

http://nativeamericanhistory.about.com/od/artmusicdance/a/Indigenous-Dance-Traditions-In-The-Us-Native-American-Vs-Native-Hawaiian.htm http://saflights.hubpages.com/hub/10-Things-You-Did-Not-Know-About-Hula-Dancing http://www.spiritsouthseas.com/polynesiandance.htm

http://jacksoncrdg1112.edublogs.org/2012/03/02/ten-facts-of-tahitian-dance/

http://www.thetahititraveler.com/general-information/art-culture/polynesian-dance-music/

http://hankeringforhistory.com/native-american-dances-and-meanings/

http://www.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/10-native-american-music-traditions.htm

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-dances.html