Performances
Laka-laka
Dance
The Tongan laka-laka is a standing dance composed by a 'panake' or master poet, who creates songs and choreography that commemorate important events. Following ancient customs, a standing line of men face a line of women while they sing and dance a narrative about a significant event. Laka-lakas include stories about the history of the Mormon Church, visits of royalty to Salt Lake or travels by the group to a faraway place.
Courtesy
of the Utah Arts Council
Photo by Craig Miller, November 1998
Kearns Trinity United Methodist Church Luau Festival
The
Polynesian Gift to Utah is made possible by a
generous grant from the R. Harold Burton Foundation.