How to Do the Samoan Fa'ataupati Slap Dance
The Samoan slap dance is part of a tribal custom of pre-battle dance and ritual to get warriors prepared. Today, the Samoan slap dance is a thrilling rite performed by athletes with Samoan heritage and as a cultural performance that highlights one of the most fascinating cultures in the world.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Get a group of a few people together since the Samoan slap dance, as a tribal dance, is best performed in unison with a group of other people. Show as much skin as you're comfortable with and give yourself a coating of suntan oil. Change your street clothes for a Samoan lavalava (which resembles a large loincloth or sarong) so you can better get into the dance.
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2
Make a call of initiation to the audience by chanting the traditional Samoan opening to the slap dance. If you don't know it, then chant out something relevant to the situation you're in. Then begin the dance by stomping one foot at a time as you sway from side to side along with your Samoan slap dance group.
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3
Squat down into a semi-squat so that your thighs are at a 120-degree angle to your lower legs and then start rhythmically slapping both thighs with your open hands at the same time. If you have a chant you should say it as you slap your thighs to get more into the tribal dance.
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4
Alternate the slapping of different parts such as the top of your forearm (next to the elbow), the bottom of each of your feet, the outsides of your feet and your chest. Go through a pattern of slapping that your fellow Samoan slap dancers can do with you so you make a bigger effect with the slapping.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep your hands cupped to do the slapping since this will prevent pain while making a louder noise during the dance.
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Comments
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alisana
Feb 11, 2009
Interesting. Sounds like a palagi wrote this. A few things to mention. 1. I've never seen athletes perform the fa'ataupati, rather, many Polynesian athletes will do a haka before a game, but that is Maori, not Samoan. 2. I think baby oil is preferred over sun tan oil. 3. A dance like this is better learned by watching, or actually being taught by someone who knows how to do it. If I were to follow he directions as written, it would look incredibly strange. -
alisana
Feb 11, 2009
Interesting. Sounds like a palagi wrote this. A few things to mention. 1. I've never seen athletes perform the fa'ataupati, rather, many Polynesian athletes will do a haka before a game, but that is Maori, not Samoan. 2. I think baby oil is preferred over sun tan oil. 3. A dance like this is better learned by watching, or actually being taught by someone who knows how to do it. If I were to follow he directions as written, it would look incredibly strange.
