Tahiti Mana School of Dance

I have been taking classes from Tahiti Mana for almost two years now. I had stopped dancing for over ten years and I was nervous to get back into it. I had just moved from Maui and had heard so many stories about groups not being very welcoming to new students. I looked at a lot of groups on line, there was a silly picture of the Tahiti Mana group together enjoying a «Crazy Hairdo» contest. They looked like just the fun living kind of group I wanted to be a part of.
I was right. I messaged them on Facebook and got an immediate response. When I showed up for my first class Nalini and Mana were so welcoming. They are so humble and amazing teachers.
The group itself was just as fun loving and sweet at the pictures on their FB and IG. No drama just a true group of people that have become like a second family to me here on Oahu.
Last summer I had the coolest opportunity to participate in a competition with the group at the Heiva I Kauai. And we won grand champions!
I can’t say enough about this group that welcomes dancers with any (or none at all) experience.

Tahiti Mana classes are fantastic! I started their classes because I was just curious about Tahitian dance and was immediately hooked. There is live drumming at almost every class and they also integrate Tahitian culture into the class which makes the dancing even more meaningful. I joined with no prior Tahitian dance experience and was welcomed with open arms. The teachers are so friendly and now I feel like I am part of a family. All the other students are so nice and fun as well, I have really made some lifelong friends.
Their classes are SUCH a great workout. I am the best shape of my life now and I can tell that my strength and endurance as really improved. The class prices are very reasonable, and they even offer discounted opportunities if you help them out with registration or keiki classes. I started in the beginning classes, and now after a year, I feel comfortable in the intermediate and advanced classes (even though I am still constantly challenged). The Tahiti Mana family are such a fun and spirited group of people that I plan to dance with for years to come!

I met Mana at old restaurant we worked at together. Found out he taught Tahitian dancing and I figure I swing by and check it out since I already like music and art.
Crazy but dancing ended up changing my life. I learned how dance really teaches you about yourself. You learn where your self-​esteem and confidence levels stand which ends up increasing because of the teachings and support you receive from everyone. It’s a lot of fun, a place to learn and a lot of skills I learned here I apply to my everyday life like having a good attitude and learning how to enjoy life and smile.
The performances are really awesome too. A lot of dancing has to do with transferring of energy. You feel the music and the audience feels everything through the performers. Lot of physical and mental strengthening come from dancing but also a lot of social, emotional and spiritual. There is a lot of self fulfillment and satisfaction you get from Tahitian dancing, something words cannot explain and it ain’t no joke.
I’m happy to have dancing a part of my life and I would recommend it to everyone. It’s fun, sharing of culture of Tahiti and Polynesia, healing for mind body & soul, you get a bomb workout and the accomplishment you get from dancing is something special. There’s a lot of purpose at Tahiti Mana School of Dance, something that someone can really appreciate in this life time.

Tahiti-​Mana…
A couple years back (2014), my family and I were enjoying our time at Manoa Valley District Park. My wife at the time, took some time off from dancing Tahitian to help raise our kids. She had been dancing Polynesian for almost ten years prior to us having kids.
As we walked over near the Pavillion, we heard some music, saw a group of females dressed in Pareos, and two instructors giving out instructions to a beautiful choreographed dance, which kind of resembles the Hula.
My wife expressed how she really missed dancing, and without being coaxed, I made three calls to three different Tahitian Dance studios the next day. Two out of the three called back, one of them was Manarii Gauthier from, Tahiti-​Mana. Just from our conversation alone, he already made me feel comfortable and sounded very welcoming. I had told him that my wife had some experience in dancing on the mainland with some groups and she wanted to get back into dancing. He said that sounded great, and we were off to visit our first practice at University of Hawaii.
At that first practice, Manarii invited me to drum along side with him. There were only three of us. He had me on the Fakete Drum that day and I just had the most difficult time ever as a drummer! That was actually my first time drumming and I sucked! But it was a good time none the less!
Two years later, my drumming still sucks, but I can honestly tell you the following about Tahiti-​Mana and the Tahiti-​Mana Family.
* You won’t find a more welcoming group of people! Coming from the mainland, my family and I were detached from our family and friends. We had a few friends sprinkled on the island, but we barely had chances to meet with them. Life takes over ya know. In joining, Tahiti-​Mana, the group became our family, and we have made bonds that will last a lifetime.
* Passion and Enthusiasm — Nalini Guathier and Manarii Gauthier always bring energy, passion and enthusiasm to every class they are conducting, to the shows they perform and award winning competitions! Their energy is very addicting.
* Tahitian Rooted. If you are looking for a group to teach you TAHITIAN DANCE, Tahiti-​Mana is it. Manarii Gauthier is born and raised in Tahiti, and is a veteran in the Tahitian dance circles. You will learn the basics all the way to the advance combination moves from both Nalini and Manarii. I was greatly impressed that both instructors take the time to teach the language, the culture, and the meanings behind what the choreography is all about. After awhile, both of my daughters were singing Tahitian songs both in French and in Tahitian!
* Great Environment — For me, it was great to have that welcoming feeling from the group. I can honestly say, from my experience, there is NO DRAMA. If you are looking for a Drama Free group to join, Tahiti-​Mana would be it. For me that was important. I had my wife, and two small children with the group, and I did not and would not deal with any drama. I am too old for that kine stuff!
In the two years we have been a part of Tahiti-​Mana, we have experienced what it is like to participate in a Heiva. I had an opportunity to drum with Tahiti-​Mana in 2014 for the iHeiva Honolulu at the Waikiki Shell, in Kauai this past summer (2015) and have done a number of shows with the group. For me, it was a time to get together with my family and enjoy something we all loved to do. We have since moved back to L.A. California, but my wife and daughter continue to dance and learn about Tahitian Dance and Culture.
If you are a local on Oahu looking for your next great adventure in learning something new, a seasoned veteran Tahitian Dancer looking to learn from someone new, or just visiting the Aina, come check out Tahiti-​Mana as one of your stops for the day.