Professional Tahitian dancer Tumata Vairaaroa chose passion over an easy career, for many it would have spelt disaster. She never regretted that decision and is now recognised as the foremost expert in Ori-Tahiti.

She is in Samoa to teach Ori Tahiti dance. She said she was fortunate to have had the opportunity to engage with Samoan children and adults. 

"I started dancing when I was 16, and I teach Ori Tahiti. I was lucky enough to be chosen to choreograph and dance in one of the most famous dance groups in Tahiti, O Tahiti E. This allowed me to start travelling the world at a young age," she said. 

"Around the age of 18, people started asking me to teach, so I went from being a student to a professional dancer in that group to becoming a master teacher. I also studied economics at university at the same time.

"In Tahiti, the reality is that you can't live off dancing. It's not sustainable. Following my studies and dancing, I had to make a choice. Either I was going to become a professor of Economics or follow my dance path. My choice would become the world of Ori Tahiti, and it permitted me to travel to become a presenter on TV.

"I also produce documentaries around cultural aspects of our life in Tahiti."

Tumata is a big believer in "if it's meant to be it shall be". Her faith and confidence in her potential and ability have taken her around the world.

"I met Elina Von Reiche from O Tahiti Dance school in a cafe in Tahiti where she just approached me and said, "I know who you are. I have a very humble dance school in Samoa and my students would love to learn from you," she said.

"And that's how the conversation sort of started... So, that faith she believed in me, and it was all just pure luck. It's been 10 years since I've been dreaming of actually coming to Samoa, and the fact that we met was a revelation for me.

"I was very interested in knowing and meeting the Samoan dancers because I was always intrigued by what they thought of our dance, the Ori Tahiti dance. I'm here, and I realised, thanks to their Polynesian Mana, they have huge potential. The Samoan dancers have huge potential because I can feel the mana."

She has held classes and she believes that someone can get to that level when they're supported by a constant Tahitian dance school here regularly. 

"One of the most important things in Ori Tahiti is to love oneself and to accept oneself. First and foremost, you need to love yourself. Then, after that comes to the technique and the hip movement. The basics of siva Samoa, some of them are quite familiar, like moving the hands gracefully, the feet and so that will help them progress rapidly in ori Tahiti."

For Tumata, she never travels to a country with expectations, she wants to discover it all on her own when she reaches her destination.

"Ten years ago, I didn't go down the path of Siva Afi because I wasn't ready. I was on my Ori Tahiti path, but three years ago, through the help and support of friends, they encouraged me to get deeper into the Siva Afi. And last year, in November, I launched the Siva Afi international competition in Tahiti held in November 2024."

She is currently the Director of the Siva Afi International competition, which is held in November, and also the Director of the Association of Fire Dancers in Tahiti. 

She comes from a family of paddlers, as in Tahiti, you are either a dancer or you're a paddler. Her whole family are paddlers but she was an extrovert as a kid. 

"I come from a family that wasn't necessarily financially well off. My family did not want to put me through dance school, so I started dancing at 16 on a serious level, which is very late for most dancers," she said.

"My father, for example, didn't necessarily agree with the attire because he still had that old way of thinking. I was quite a rebel as a young kid. I've had a career now in the dance industry for 15 years, but it's only been five years since my dad and family have accepted it because I am successful. I am now the face of culture when it comes to TV."