At Benjamin and Aaliyah Armstrong’s wedding, their groomsmen and guests surprised them with a powerful dance that evokes emotion and tradition. This specific routine is a form of haka dance known as Tika Tonu. Haka is a traditional war dance created by the Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous people, but it can also be displayed during times of peace, and to celebrate special occasions. As for the Tika Tonu style, it was written in 1914 by a chief named Waimarama Puhara, who created it for his son to symbolize him transitioning from a boy to a man.
When the Armstrong’s wedding party began the dance, they performed it as a sign of respect from Benjamin’s best man and his family members. The performers moved in perfect harmony and with a beautiful amount of emotion. They even brought Aaliyah to tears as she watched her bridesmaids join in. Before long, both the bride and the groom began to dance, to show respect back to their loved ones. The entire performance turned out to be a passionate demonstration of mutual love and appreciation.
via [The Huffington Post, Neatorama]
All photos and GIFs via Westone Productions.