IA ORANA!

TAHITIAN OTEA

The Tahitian Otea is a group dance done by both men and women.  A typical otea by itself would be about half a minute to a minute in length; however, one otea is usually grouped together in a medley with other otea.  As a result, one otea presentation can last up to ten minutes in length. 

The traditional instruments used in the otea are the toere (hallow woods), pahu (base drum), fa`atete (smaller higher drum), ofe (bamboo), vivo (nose flute), and coconut shells.  Some say that the otea is truly a competition between the dancers and the drummers to determine which of the two can go faster.