The ''aparima'' or ''Kaparima'' ( Rarotongan) is a dance from

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austra ...

and the

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

where the mimicks (''apa'') with the hands (''rima'') are central, and as such it is close to the

hula Hula () is a Hawaiian dance form accompanied by chant (oli) or song ( mele). It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Native Hawaiians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visua ...

or Tongan '' tauolunga''. It is usually a dance for groups. There are two types of ''aparima'': the ''aparima hīmene'' (sung handdance) and the ''aparima vāvā'' (silent handdance), the latter being performed with music only, and no singing. The music is often played on the guitar or the Tahitian

ukulele The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ), also called Uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings. The tone and volume of the instrumen ...

. The stories depicted by the dance are taken from daily traditional occupations or ancient myths. Unlike the other Tahitian dances, this one is more often performed with the dancers dressed in '' pāreu'' and ''maro''. It can also (especially the ''aparima vāvā'') be performed seated, much like the Tongan '' māuluulu''.

References

Patrick O'Reilly; La danse à Tahiti (unclear ref) Dances of Tahiti {{Dance-stub