Haka

The typical dance of the New Zealand Maori ethnic group, adopted for its original intensity as a 'battle cry' by the All Blacks rugby team, has become a symbol of the identity of a people. "Haka" means "to ignite the breath", from HA (breath) and KA (to inflame) and is a dance which expresses the inner feeling of the person performing it, and can have multiple meanings. The tongue out, teeth clenched, eyes wide open, are all signs and movements aimed at communicating aggressiveness and power, distinctive traits of the Maori warrior spirit. However, the Haka was not created as a war dance but as a disciplined expression to be performed during rituals, festivals or celebrations. Although it owes its popularity to sport, dance is still taught by older people to children, so that its notoriety in the field of sport does not overshadow its traditional spirit.