MAORI WAR DANCES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 130, 28 November 1924, Page 8

MAORI WAR DANCES

A SUCCESSFUL LONDON PERFORMANCE.

(FROM ODR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 16th October.

Last night a picked team o£ New Zealanders and others gave their services at a super-cabaret at the New Princes' Hotel in aid of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The programme consisted of a tableau of the Dominion coat-of-arms, Maori war dances, and a Maori songi- No one could; have anticipated the flattering reception which was ao«orded to the 16-. performers, and incidentally the Dominion received due pub; Jicity. ■ ' '■■. -•.. ■'•

The party had been specially trained' ty Major B. Dansey and included Messrs. Lawrie, ■ Coot, Williams, Haywood, Black, and Te Kiri, all members of the New Zealand Exhibition Pavilion staff, Mr. Brooke (of the High Commissioner's staff), and five Londoners. Mrs. Reed, of Samoa, and a London lady, acted the parts of Maori maidens, and Miss Black posed as the female figure in the coat-of-arms.^ The male figure was taken by Mr. Lawrie, of Eotorua.

When the curtain rose on the coat-of-arms tableau the Maoris reclining were ranged in a semi-circle about the arms. The warriors wore, genuine Piu-pius, or dancing mats, and shoulder capos; they were barefooted, and their bodies were stained the appropriate colour. When the curtain rose a second time the coat-of-arms. was removed, leaving the warriors grouped for the singing o£ "Te Ope Maori." An unseen band of Russian stringed instruments accompanied the song.

Then the shoulder capes were discarded, rovealing all the warriors stripped to the waist, and several hakas followed. It was certainly a thrilling performance, and ■was wildly encored. After the encore had been complied with' the applause continued, and the.whole party came down from.- the stage- on the dancing floor and repeated the" performance. The hospital authorities were highly delighted with the effort,, and. a vaudeville manager was anxious to arrange a contract, with the party there arid then. The main purpose of the performance, besides benefiting the hosoital funds, was further to advertise the Dominion, and'this' was undoubtedly-accomplished. . . -.