Ori Vahine, otherwise known as the Polynesian Dance Club at BVH, serves as a celebration of heritage, community and storytelling through movement. The club was originally founded out of appreciation for the culture itself, as well as the lack of Polynesian representation there was in BVH. Unlike other cultures who are widely recognized and celebrated on campus, Polynesian culture has not yet received the same recognition. Co-Captain Alexis Stern added onto the significance.
“Ori Vahine teaches students about the Polynesian culture through dance. Polynesian dance is a living form of history and when learning choreography to a Polynesian song we value translating the lyrics, [as well as] explaining how they are significant to the culture. [We also] teach our club members how Polynesian dance has evolved and changed throughout history and [that the reasoning as to] why they have changed is very important to us,” Stern said.
Dance is a significant aspect within several cultures. It carries a sense of tradition and memories from previous generations who were proud to show off their culture. Nowadays, culture is sometimes not appreciated enough by the descendents themselves, so seeing a generation putting in the effort to share their culture is always a refreshing sight, especially in the high school setting. Co-Captain Lianna Clarion shared her thoughts on representation.
“I think Polynesian dance is really important to share with others at school because it gives them an insight of a culture they might not be familiar with. I also hope it inspires them to want to learn about the culture because it really is a unique and beautiful style of dance,” Clarion said.
While increasing awareness of your own culture is a beauty in itself, getting the funds to do so is where most students find trouble. Funding is a fundamental part for culture clubs like Ori Vahine or even the car culture club. It gives students access to be active within their community and give back. Dance teacher Christine Timmons explained more in depth about the role of an advisor.
“I provide a space for them to rehearse, so my room [essentially]. I also provide them with some guidance in [having to know] how our clubs run as far as fundraising and money, and then assisting with approving costumes and if there’s other places that they can perform. I want to be able to provide that [for them],” Timmons said.
While Timmons plays her role in ensuring that the club has sufficient funding available, it’s the memories of performances that stick with the students the most. While performing can educate someone about a new culture, it’s the pre-performance jitters that bring the dancers closer than ever before as Stern expressed.
“During all of the practices in the dance room leading up to the performance [at Valley Vista’s Elementary Multi-Cultural fair] I was able to build a strong bond with the other girls I was dancing with. Just being able to share the same sense of nervousness before our performance really bonded us together. Also, the sense of pride we all felt being able to share Polynesian culture and hopefully inspiring such a wide range of people felt amazing,” Stern said.
Stern remarks that Polynesian Dance is important because it’s a visual form of history. Not only does it give people a sense of community, but it also gives students a welcoming and safe space to express themselves and earn their voice. While students at Valley Vista elementary got to experience a new culture and walk away with a valuable memory, Clarion would go on to state that the performance itself became a core memory of the club.
“Last year we performed at Valley Vista Elementary’s Multicultural Assembly. I would say it was pretty memorable just because that was our first debut as a club. I love performing for people and I hope this club gives other students the opportunity and the passion for performing as well,” Clarion said.
A big emphasis on spreading the history of Polynesian culture is emphasized within the club. History is what makes a culture so significant as everyone is diverse in their backgrounds, never exactly being the same as another person. As the interview came to a close, Timmons shared her perspective on the club from an advisor standpoint.
“I’m not in charge of any aspects of [the club]. I just love cultural dance and I feel like celebrating that through our cultural assembly coming up, but also other opportunities for them to share their love of dance and their culture, is really what I see the most,” Timmons stated.
