Hakamanu – The Bird Dance
The hakamanu celebrates the sacred bird, te manu, by mimicking its flight. Through sweeping gestures and graceful movements, the dancer evokes the bird’s majesty and freedom as it soars above the world. Yet in its sensual fluidity, the dance also carries love, feminine gentleness, and a sense of purity.
At every Marquesas Arts Festival, the Bird Dance holds pride of place and opens the festival. The dancer dazzles the audience with her elegance and expressive power. Today, this unique performance has become a symbol of identity and pride for all Marquesans — an emblem of love and of life itself in the Land of Men, Te Henua Enana.
In ancient times, the hakamanu was reserved for women of chiefly descent, who alone could embody its majesty. Passed down through generations, the dance was once performed bare-chested, its allure designed to seduce men. Over time, modesty led to the use of bustiers called tape’a titi. Eventually, the dance opened to all, and men too began to perform it. Their version, known as the hakapahaka, traces its origins to the southern island of Fatu Hiva.
Photo credit: Tahiti Tourisme
