‘Anapa Nui, under the direction of Art and Kathy Coleman, offers Polynesian Entertainment. Based out of Stockton and Lodi, California, the dancers travel distances near and far sharing and perpetuating the cultures they love. ‘Anapa Nui‘s typical extravaganza includes dances from three of the Polynesian islands, Tahiti, Hawai’i and New Zealand. All the dances are authentic to the islands and are performed in costumes made by each dancer for each and every song.

From Tahiti, the dancers perform the enticing tamuré where the hips fly to the beats of the log drums or toere. Also from Tahiti is the aparima, dances done to song, similar to some of the dances performed in the islands of Hawai’i.

‘Anapa Nui shares two styles of dance from the island of Hawaii, the auana and the kahiko (a hula show!)  The auana is a beautiful melodious dance performed with grace, telling the stories with the dancers’ talking hands. The kahiko is a serious dance used to pass down stories of ancient times.

Lastly, but definitely not least, is the dance performed by the Maori people. Although this dance may look easy because of the ease that the poi fly through the air, these dancers are very skilled. The fluidity of the poi comes in time with much practice and was one method used for building strength of warriors.