Move · Videos · Dance · 35 min

Siva Tatau: Learn a Samoan Dance, Verse by Verse

Siva Tatau: Learn a Samoan Dance, Verse by Verse — video by TheCoconetTV Play · 35:04

Video by TheCoconetTV on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Maryjane McKibbin-Schwenke and her daughters teach their Siva Tatau verse by verse, a Samoan dance telling how the sisters Taema and Tilafaiga brought the tatau (tattoo) to Samoa, to the song 'Le Mafua'aga'. Stay standing in the low parts if your knees prefer.

  • 35 min
  • Beginner
  • Moderate impact
  • No equipment

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 14

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Instrumental: tap the right foot side to side with the right hand moving, then the left side. 1:34
  2. Verse 1: hand on the waist, tell the story with your hands, starting with a pointed finger. 2:44
  3. Swing the arms round and gallop to show the sisters' journey. 3:50
  4. Rowing: go low and row right and left, or stay standing if your knees prefer. 4:22
  5. Tattoo-tapping actions: chest, leg and elbow, then run four steps back and to the front. 6:41
  6. Dance verse 1 with the music. 8:20
  7. Verse 2: face right, right hand over left, and sit back low, middle and high. 8:58
  8. Dive into the ocean, then brush the hair to represent the women. 12:25
  9. Dance verses 1 and 2 from the top with the music. 16:50
  10. Verse 3, the tattooing: sit low with bent knees while the hands mimic the tapping. 18:21
  11. A rugby-style side step, then elbow, clap and chest actions; stay up if you cannot go down. 22:20
  12. Dance verse 3 with the music. 24:52
  13. Verse 4: welcoming arms, then lift the hem and step proudly to show off the tattoo. 25:36
  14. Watch the whole Siva Tatau danced together to the song. 30:35

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Keep the knees bent for most of the siva
  • For the low rowing on the ground, stay standing if your knees are sore
  • Let the hands tell the story of each line of the song

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 1 take load

  • Knees takes loadbent knees throughout, low sits, going down to row
  • Shoulders movesstorytelling arms, rowing arms, claps
  • Hips moveslow sits, gallop, runs, side steps
  • Ankles & feet movesfoot taps, gallop, running steps
  • Down on the floor. You get down to the floor and back up again.

Easier option from the coach: Stay standing for the low rowing on the ground and the low sits

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by TheCoconetTV; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety