A Warrior's Aesthetic

The Haka itself is a challenge and a war cry, born of a people divided into many tribes and constantly on the edge of battle. It is used as an expression of aggression or anger, and as an assertion of dominance over an opponent. It can be performed by both men and women, though the modern understanding of the Haka has been greatly influenced by the sports world where we see it as a male-only dance. In a traditional Haka, the men stand in front with the women behind. The Haka is a pan-sensational experience, with loud vocals and rhythmic declamation, and aggressive and challenging facial expressions, body movements, and overall demeanor. The men attempt to appear as menacing and threatening as possible, and employ foot-stamping and body percussion to evoke fear in their adversaries. The dancers are very grounded and percussive with their movement, and the only audio accompaniment is the sounds made by the dancers themselves. (And hopefully the whimpers of their enemies!) While seen as a traditional war dance, the Haka had many uses beyond the battlefield in pre-colonial Maori society and continues to do so today.