What you told us

It wasn’t surprising that 88% of you said your goal is to become a better improviser.

What surprised us was what “being a better improviser” actually means to you.

The same words kept appearing over and over again:

• Confidence
• Musicality
• Understanding
• Culture
• Freedom
• Connection
• Joy

Very few of you simply said you wanted to win competitions.

What we heard instead was this: You are looking for Freedom and Meaning.

 

A thought about improvisation

There’s something important I shared during the live.

In ‘Ori Tahiti, improvisation has never been at the center of our culture.

We improvise during celebrations, performances, and joyful moments. We invite guests to dance at the end of shows. It’s playful, spontaneous, and a way of sharing happiness together.

It was never traditionally taught as a competitive skill or something people were judged on.

The excitement around improvisation competitions is much more recent and mostly developed outside Tahiti, particularly in North America where dance competitions are very common.

Here in Tahiti, our main dance competition is Heiva i Tahiti, a tradition that dates back well over a century. Different districts came together to tell their stories, celebrate their identity, preserve their culture, and yes… compete to some extent, but always through storytelling, music, dance and craftsmanship.

The ‘Ori Tahiti Nui competition arrived much later and helped popularize improvisation as a competitive discipline internationally.

Neither approach is “right” or “wrong.”

They’re simply different.

 

So where does my perspective come from?

 

You might be wondering…

“If improvisation wasn’t traditionally taught, how can you teach it?”

The answer is simple.

I didn’t learn improvisation through a method.

I grew up inside it.

From a very young age, dance was my everyday environment. Long before I understood what musicality or improvisation meant, my ears were already learning.

I had the privilege of dancing with one of the most influential groups of its time, during the golden era of hotel shows and international tours.

Every single day, I was surrounded by incredible musicians, exceptional dancers, visionary choreographers, creative directors and scenographers.

Without even realizing it, my brain was building an enormous library of pehe, rhythms, movements, transitions, stage presence and storytelling.

It never felt like studying.

It simply became part of who I am.

No one ever sat me down and taught me “how to improvise.”

But over thousands of rehearsals and performances, I learned to recognize patterns, understand the music, connect movements together and express what I heard.

That’s exactly what I want to make accessible to you.

Instead of waiting twenty years to absorb it naturally, my goal is to break down what became intuitive for me so you can understand it consciously and develop those same skills much faster.

 

How do we find Freedom?

I believe there are three keys.

1. Master your craft.

Technique, Musicality, Body awareness.

This is the part that requires discipline and consistent work.

 

2. Take risks.

If you want to feel free on stage…

you need to be on stage.

If you want to become comfortable competing…

you need to compete.

There isn’t a shortcut.

Confidence is earned through action.

 

3. Keep a playful heart.

This, to me, is the Tahitian spirit.

Dance should never become only pressure.

Never only stress.

Never only fear.

Don’t lose the joy that made you fall in love with dance in the first place.

 

And what about Meaning?

This is probably the part I’m most excited about.

I’m still learning about my own culture.

I don’t have every answer, and I don’t pretend to.

That’s exactly why I want this program to exist. As I learn, you’ll learn with me.

This is a journey we’ll take together.

Many of you also asked whether becoming a better improviser means learning to play drums.

Personally…

I don’t think becoming a great dancer requires becoming a musician.

I’ve never learned to play an instrument, yet it never stopped me from becoming the dancer I wanted to be.

Of course, if learning drumming genuinely excites you, then absolutely go for it.

But I don’t want anyone to feel they have to become a musician before they can become a better dancer.

The purpose of this program isn’t to train musicians.

It’s to help dancers understand pehe more deeply so they can dance with greater meaning, confidence and freedom.