Nowadays, there are many different dance trends and popular dance styles. Of course, the way we dance today differs from the way we danced 50 years ago. Many people associate certain dance styles with specific decades or times in their lives, and vice versa. But all these fast-paced trends from the 21st century are coming way after the era of the first traditional and oldest dances in the world. These dances carry a lot of cultural traits and values for the descendants of the original people.

One of the creators of these traditional folk dances is the Maori tribe. The tribe’s ancestors traveled from the entire Polynesian territory to New Zealand.
“Haka”, which is Maori for “dance” describes a posture dance that is known for its extreme rythmic movements and incorporates stomping with the feet, clapping, swaying, as well as slaps on the chest and claps on the thighs. The performers of Haka dance to the melody of songs that are sung by multiple singers. The dancers usually make extreme facial expressions in order to intimidate and even scare the spectators. These expressions can include the protruding of the dancer’s tongue as well as bulging eyes. This entire performance, which can look really intimidating from the outside, aims to frighten and discourage the opposing warriors.
Even though the haka is a traditional preparation before the battle, it is not only performed by male members of the Maori tribe. Also, Maori women participate in this dance. Nowadays, it is not used as a deterrent but as a social activity.

Furthermore, haka also has a spiritual meaning for the Maori. An old legend says that the god of the sun, “Tama-nui-te-ra” got a child together with his wife, “Hine-raumati”, who was the personified summer. Their child, a son, received the name “Tane-rore”. In summer, when the temperatures rose in New Zealand and it got so hot that the air seemed to move and quiver. This phenomenon was thought to be Tane-rore who was dancing for his mother. This element is incorporated into the dance through the shaking movement of the hands that is supposed to portray the performance of Tane-rore as well as, in general, the quick and light movements.

Moreover, the haka is traditionally performed to welcome a stranger into their tribal society, but also in cases where two different tribes are approaching each other. Nowadays, haka is also performed at weddings, funerals, birthdays, and similar events.
Every two years, in New Zealand, the Ta Matatini festival takes place. This festival is extremely popular all over the world, and the haka dance has been one of its trademarks since 1972.

Since haka is just the generic term for all the ceremonies and performances that involve the basic movement, there are many variations and ways to dance it. The one that is probably the most famous is called “Ka Mate”. It was created in 1820 by Te Rauparaha, who was the chief of the Maori at the time. In the beginning of the 20th century, Ka Mate got worldwide attention when it was involved in the pregame ceremony of the “All Blacks”. “All Blacks” is the name of the national rugby team of New Zealand.

Sources:
https://www.kinderweltreise.de/kontinente/australien/neuseeland/alltag-kinder/die-maori/
https://www.britannica.com/art/haka
https://www.thehakaexperience.com/what-is/haka/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haka