The oldest known practice of fire-dancing is found in Polynesian culture; the oldest records show Polynesians centuries ago fire-dancing with war clubs lit to express their battle prowess.
Fired by the Polynesian passion for dance the ceremony is nowadays performed at important ceremonies, often backed by the fa’atete – a Tahitian drum usually made from coconut wood & struck with either the hands or drum sticks.
HOT entertainment, difficult to photograph so I’ll let the images do the talking – these shots taken by Bora Bora Insider, the New York based photographer Ian Brewer & the Sydney professional photographer Mal Lyons…………
The 2013 Heiva I Bora Bora:
A fire-dancing ceremony performed for a Recent Marriage on Bora Bora – the fire symbolises the bringing of light into the lives of the couple.
This first group of shots were taken by Ian Brewer:
“Smoked ’em” was the feeling of the bride & groom above!
The following shots taken by Mal Lyons – www.lyonsimagery.com Check the guy’s tongue in the second photo – literally on fire!
The spectacle took place at water’s edge on beautiful Matira Beach, a spectacular setting & an exceptional way to present the sight & sound components of the ceremony:
As the wife of the Mayor said to me: “To witness this at water’s edge on Matria Beach is exceptional”.
EXCEPTIONAL indeed!
