KIRIBATI MWAIE (DANCING) ... is an art form - it is unique, haunting and beautiful. It contains elements of chorus, dance, ballet and lyric drama which are done to a rhythm beaten out on a box or a tin plate, or in this case to a recorded song. The mwaie reflects the way that the Kiribati people look at life. Traditionally, the singers which stand or sit behind the dancer, sing and clap with all their might to make the dancing more exciting. The dancers and their concentration on movement - a ti

Emphasising the movement of the hips ‘te buki’ is a Kiribati dancing style reserved only for women. Originating in the northern-most islands of Makin and Butaritari, te buki is now performed and enjoyed everywhere in Kiribati. The thick outer skirt you see the dancers wearing is made of boiled and softened newly sprouted coconut leaf, known as ‘te kakoko’, and can weigh up to 10 kilograms! This means te buki not only showcases a Kiribati woman’s grace and skill in dancing, but also her strength