Herstory: |
Ura Tabu was first established in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa in August 2008. The collective is made up of a diverse range of Indigenous dance practitioners from the Pacific.
The name Ura Tabu is derived from Ura : to siva, to hula or to dance and
Tabu: tapu, kapu, sacred sometimes forbidden, other times taboo.
Not only was Ura Tabu established as a response to reignite the sacredness of Pacific dance, it was also a call to lift irrelevant taboo's that limit our potential as wahine not only in dance but in our wider societies. Today we stand strong in this globalised age, armed with self-love, empowered to create with courage, resilience and a renewed sense of self-awareness.
The name Ura Tabu is derived from Ura : to siva, to hula or to dance and
Tabu: tapu, kapu, sacred sometimes forbidden, other times taboo.
Not only was Ura Tabu established as a response to reignite the sacredness of Pacific dance, it was also a call to lift irrelevant taboo's that limit our potential as wahine not only in dance but in our wider societies. Today we stand strong in this globalised age, armed with self-love, empowered to create with courage, resilience and a renewed sense of self-awareness.
GAFA
Our Genealogy plays a central role in all our dance creations. We draw strength, grace and spirit from our Pasifika women of the past, present and future. Their guidance allows us to create a synergy that resurrects an internal fire and pure alofa inherent in our Pacific cultural practices. It is in this space that we are able to push boundaries and become wild and instinctual; a force that allows us to move seamlessly through culture, environment, time, society, philosophies and belief systems.
VALUES
Our value system informs our way of being, guides our interactions with others, determines our creative outcomes and is centred around our collective consciousness. We have selected 9 core values that represents our cultural sources of knowledge and collective whakapapa. The number 9 is also symbolic in being a number of Tapu, wisdom, completion and fulfillment.
ATUATANGA (Māori)
Connecting to Atua through land and people.
Connecting to Atua through land and people.
TAUTUA (Samoan)
To serve our family, communities, humanity.
To serve our family, communities, humanity.
AUORA (Cook Island)
To continuously develop our physical and the spiritual self.
To continuously develop our physical and the spiritual self.
PONO (Hawaii)
To always act according to what is right, moral, fair and just.
To always act according to what is right, moral, fair and just.
NOQU MATAVUVALE (Fiji)
Family, creating a healthy space of belonging for all.
Family, creating a healthy space of belonging for all.
VĀ FEĀLOAKI (Tokelau)
To nurture loyal, loving and mature relationships between people.
To nurture loyal, loving and mature relationships between people.
FESOOTA'IGA (Samoan)
To communicate courageously, authentically and respectfully.
To communicate courageously, authentically and respectfully.
LAKEI (Tuvalu)
To adorn with the beauty and knowledge of land and ancestors.
To adorn with the beauty and knowledge of land and ancestors.
AROHA (Maori)
To always lead with love and compassion.
To always lead with love and compassion.
