#V386D For nearly 50,000 years dances and songs have been an expression of Pacific Islanders' origins, their journeys, their struggles - their very existence. These are their "dance stories" - their DANCES OF LIFE. Today Pacific Islanders are struggling to maintain their identity and traditions, and dance is central to these efforts. For centuries it has remained one of the most powerful vehicles for transmitting culture. We hear from cultural leaders and dance instructors as we watch authentically costumed native dancers perform each island's traditional dances with on-screen translations of the songs they are performing. Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) narrates. Includes: New Zealand - meaning and performance of Haka and Poi Ball Dances. Paulau - First-Born Ceremony and Dances. Guam - Culture and Dances. American Samoa - Slap Dance, meaning of the Taualuga Dance and costume, the chosen Taupou Maiden. New Caledonia - Culture and Dances. (57 minutes)
DVD Features: 4:3 Letterbox; Closed Captioned