REGISTRATION

To register to compete in any of the Heiva Pasifika NYC categories, you must fill out an application form and submit your fees.  To register, click on a Solo, Duet, or Group Registration tab.  Fill in your information and click ‘Register Now’.  A single participant may only participate in one solo division, either amateur or professional, not both.  Registration will close two days before the competition.  For the Group Ote’a and Group Aparima/Mehura, and Avant-Garde categories, you must send in your music/accompaniment no later than two weeks prior to the competition. 

In registering to compete in the Ori Tahiti competition, you are affirming that you are in sufficient physical condition to participate in the highly rigorous and athletic activities, retain your own personal health/liability insurance, and you have received necessary approval from your medical provider if necessary.  You also agree that The Heiva Pasifika NYC and its constituents, partners, and affiliates, etc. are not responsible for any physical injury that you may incur as a participant in any of our activities, nor will you seek any legal action against the named organization, partners and affiliates, or hold the organization liable.  It also understood that you will not receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for your participation. Any photographs, video footage, or other media that include you or your likeness, during your participation, will be the sole property of Heiva Pasifika NYC, and may be used at the organizations discretion. 

FEES

We try our best to keep fees as low as possible.  They are a necessary contribution to help make this event a possibility.  Everyone must pre-register. There will be no same day registrations, in-person. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.  Slots are limited, so we recommend registering and securing your participation today.  To pay your fees, click on ‘Pay via Venmo’, or ‘Pay via PayPal.  This will direct you to PayPal or Venmo. Input your total amounts. In the comments type in the categories you are paying for.  Click send payment. 

The 2023 registration fees are as follows. 

Solo Ote’a: $65

Solo Aparima/Mehura: $65

Duet Ote’a: $120

Duet Aparima: $120

Group Ote’a (4-8 dancers): $200

Group Aparima/Mehura (4-8 dancers): $200

Group Avant Garde (4-8 dancers): $200

Tamari’i Exhibition (children over 8 yrs)

CRITERIA

Solo Categories

• Solo Open Division

  Dancers must be age 15+ and all technique levels are welcome to participate in the Open Solo categories.  There is no prerequisite to compete in this division.

• Solo Professional Division

  Dancers must be age 15+ and must have obtained an advanced level of technique.  The prerequisite for participating in the pro category is having won or placed on a podium in any solo category at another legitimate Ori Tahiti competition. You will indicate your most recent placement at registration.

Costumes

• Ote’a

  It is highly recommended that you craft a costume that is made of natural fibers and materials or fresh foliage.  It should be complete and coherent from head to toe.  Be creative so you will stand out.  If you are utilizing a tumu parau, it should reflect the theme you are representing.

  • Vahine

    Wear a plain (no print) cotton pareu. No hip hei. Adornments like necklaces, hei pua, breastplates, or other items may be worn, but should not cumbersome limiting or hiding your movement.  Undergarments should not show during dancing. Headdresses should relate to the rest of your costume.   

  • Tāne 

    Wear a maro or tihere made of fabric or natural fibers and foliage such as ti leaf, more, tapa, or lauhala.  All costume elements should remain intact.  Undergarments (dark or nude string/thong) should not show during dancing.  Hei pua, breastplate, and adornments should not hide or hinder your movement. 

• Aparima/Mehura

  We recommend exquisite costumes that reflect the tumu parau of your dance. Be creative with it. Your costumes do not need to be formal wear. They should accentuate your dance and movements and be a complete outfit from headdress to toe. This costume should be separate from your ote’a costume and not use pieces interchangeably.

Scoring

• Open Division

  • Round 1 Ote’a

    The adjudicators will focus on your technical proficiency.  You should include 3-4 basic steps including: pa’oti, ueue, and patia for tāne, and faarapu, otamu, and tuane’e for vahine. The adjudicators will score your stage presence, flow and ease of your movements, and sumptuousness of your dancing. 

  • Final Round Ote’a

    The top six dancers are selected for the final round.  Your performance will be the focus of the scoring.  Your musicality and how well you dance to the drumming and music will be an important factor along with your use of dynamics.  Your overall energy, flexibility, and captivating presence will also be scored.  Winners will be the top three scores.

  • Aparima/Mehura

    Each dancer will perform a 4-5 minute aparima or mehura of their choosing. Judges will focus on the fluidity of your movement, your technical proficiency in dance steps, your expression and stage presence, and your understanding of your dance’s theme or message. There will be only one round of dancing, and the top three scores will determine the winners.

• Professional Division

  • Round 1 Ote’a

    The adjudicators will focus on your technical proficiency.  You should include 5-6 different steps including fa’arapu, tifene, ope, ha’amenemene, and tuane’e for vahine, and paoti, taparuru, totoro, patia, and ne’e animara, tāne. 

  • Final Round Ote’a

    The top six dancers are selected to compete in the finals.  The adjudicators will focus on your performance and technique.  Your expression and stage presence, creativity, fluidity and ease of movements, and sumptuousness of your dancing will be scored.

  • Aparima/Mehura

    Each dancer will perform a 4-5 minute aparima or mehura of their choosing. Judges will focus on your choreography, fluidity of movement, technical proficiency, expression and stage presence, and the comprehension of your dance’s theme or message. There will be only one round of dancing, and the top three scores will determine the winners.

  • Overall Winner

    The top score of all divisions will determine who wins the title "Heiva Pasifika NYC 2024 Overall Champion”.  Your performance will be the focus of the scoring.  Your musicality will be an important factor along with your use of dynamics.  Your overall energy, flexibility, and captivating stage presence will also be considered.  If there is a tie in scorecards, there will be a final dance-off. One winner will be chosen. Fa’aitoito!

Duets

• (Ote’a and Aparima/Mehura)

  The criteria for the duets follows that of the group categories. Two dancers share the stage and present a range of relationship themes. Be creative and investigate your idea. It can be human relationships, the sun and moon, or Maui and the sun, the wind and the trees, etc. There will be one round of duet performances to determine the winners.

Group Categories (4-8 dancers)

• Ote’a & Aparima/Mehura

  Groups should be comprised of four to eight dancers. It is not necessary that all dancers move in unison the entire dance, but when you are in unison, it should be very clean and precise. Dancer should not be still for longer than eight counts during the dance. Your stage time must be at least five minutes, no more than 6 minutes. Send your music, lyrics and translation, and the description of your dance as soon as possible, or no later than two weeks prior to the Heiva.

  • Costumes

    Costumes can be made of any material and can be of your own design and creation. A modern or innovative expression of traditional wear using natural elements and fibers is encouraged. Be creative. This should reflect your concept or theme. It is not necessary for all the costumes to be exactly the same, however, it should be obvious that they are all related and part of the same dance.

  • Scoring

    The winning group will exhibit a strong knowledge of their message, shown through their performance, technical mastery and choreographic composition. Musicality and dynamics are important factors and will both be scored. Additionally, your group will earn points for precision during the unison moments, how well dancers relate to each other onstage, and how successful your group is at engaging the audience. Lastly, your group will be judged on its overall performance and stage presence.

• Avant-Garde

  This is our most exciting category. It will push dancers’ and choreographers’ creativity and thinking outside the box. We are eager to see our culture expand into new horizons and see artists and dancers take risks, experiment, and push past boundaries. This is the perfect outlet for this expression.

  • Costumes

    Designs are entirely up to you. They may play a role in pushing boundaries, or they may be used to create the desired effect or imagery you wish to portray. Please notify us as soon as possible if your performance may need extra logistical or technical consideration for the performance.

  • Criteria

    Submissions should include a brief description of your proposed idea and the concept you are exploring. They may address sociopolitical, environmental, cultural issues, or personal topics. Your dance should challenge what is considered to be typical, push boundaries, and move your audience. This is your chance to take artistic liberties, express unusual concepts, and experiment on ideas not usually seen in Ori Tahiti. Your creation should be 4-5 minutes long. Your accompaniment must be submitted no later that two weeks before the event. We are always here to help you through the process. Feel free to reach out for guidance or if you have any specific questions.

  • Scoring

  • Your work will be scored on the concept of your creation and how well it challenges what is considered typical and pushes boundaries. The overall imagery and presentation that you create on stage will be considered in your scoring. Your overall presentation should have an impact.

  • Winners: For the group ote’a, aparima, and avant-garde categories, there will only be one round of performances.  Winners will be selected from this round.

Personal Conduct

It is of utmost importance that we all conduct ourselves in a friendly and professional manner.  In order for everyone to enjoy the experience to the fullest, we ask that everyone be courteous to everyone and encourage all participants of the competition.  Many people have traveled long distances and have had to make sacrifices to be part of this event.  Let us be examples of our Pacific Island upbringing and create a loving and caring community environment that will extend past our event’s time and date.

Check-In at Venue

When you check-in at your designated time, please bring a photo ID.  Dancers will be directed to the dressing room.  Because of limited space, those who are not competing will not be allowed in the dressing room.  You will be given a number that must be worn visibly on your costume at the right hip.  Your punctuality will play a vital role in making sure you are where you need to be at the time you need to be there and ensuring a smooth run of all events.  There is not much leeway if you do not show up where you need to be at the correct time.  This may affect your participation.  If necessary, ask a HPNYC rep to show you ahead of time where you need to be so you will not be left behind.

Dressing Room

There will be limited space in the dressing room.  Please do not bring luggage or large bags with you.  Because of space limitations, only competitors will be allowed in the dressing room.  We recommend you show up mostly ready, hair and makeup done, put on your costume when you arrive to the holding area. Leave your valuables with someone you trust.  Please arrive to the venue at the designated time. Pay close attention to when you are called to line up in numerical order.  A runner will be designated to each grouping of dancers and will notify you when it is your turn to dance.  

House Drummers

We will have house drummers that will provide live accompaniment for the solo ote’a competition.  There will be several beats that will be on rotation for solo competitors to dance their improvisation.   

Awards

There will be a ceremony for awards immediately following the second evening’s performance. A cocktail reception will close the event where you will be able to mingle and celebrate! Fa’aitoito Tatou!