MAORI WAR DANCES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 January 1925, Page 5

MAORI WAR DANCES

PERFORMANCE IN LONDON. LONDON, Oct. 16. Last night a picked team of New Zealanders and others gave their services at a super-cabaret at the New Prince’s Hotel in aid of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The programme consisted! of a tableau of the- Dominion coat-of-anns, Maori war dances, and a Maori song. No oil© could have anticipated the flattering reception which was accorded to the .16 performers, and incidentally the Dominion received due publicity. The party had been specially trained by Major R. Dansey, and included Messrs Lawrie, Cook, 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. Reedj of Samoa, and a London lady, acted the parts of Maori maidens, and Miss Black posed as the female figure in the ooat-of-arms. The male figure was taken by Mr. Lawrie, or Rotorua. 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 capes; they were barefooted, and tlieir 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 of “Te Ope Maori.” An unseen band of Russian stringed instruments accompanied the song. Then the shoulder capes were discarded, revealing 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 cm 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 and then. The main purpose of the performance, besides benefiting the hospital funds, was further to advertise the Dominion, and this was undoubtedly accomplished.