ABOUT KARI KARI RAPA NUI CULTURAL BALLET
The Kari Kari Cultural Ballet is the oldest artistic group in Rapa Nui. Our goal is to rescue, value and transmit the dance, melodies and culture of the Rapa Nui ancestors. Our name means “excellence” and true to this meaning we have been training children and young artists for years in our “Ma'aranui” academy so that they can be the best representatives of their land through different disciplines and cultural expressions.
The Ballet was founded in 1996 by the cultural manager and local artist Lynn Rapu Tuki. One of our greatest achievements has been winning the Tapati Rapanui for 17 consecutive years. Lynn Rapu is currently retired from competition as he is completely dedicated to other projects. The trajectory and continuity of the Kari Kari Ballet have transformed it into the most well-known group on the island.
When you experience Kari Kari, you will not only be in front of a show full of energy and beauty, with live music that will penetrate deep into your soul and senses, but you will also learn about ancestral artistic expressions such as the Hoko (war dance), the Kai-Kai (a game of threads that tells a story), the Sau-Sau (dance of love) and the Riu Uté (ancestral songs), which represent the most traditional way of life of this people, their customs and history.
Our director, Lynn Rapu Tuki, was born in 1969 in Rapa Nui. Teacher and founder of the Ma'aranui Cultural Academy and the Kari Kari Cultural Ballet, Lynn Rapu is also recognized as an active promoter of the arts and customs of his land. This has led him to hold positions such as Asia-Pacific Cultural Ambassador and Head of the Liaison Office of the CNCA (National Council for Culture and the Arts).
Several generations of artists have passed through the Academy and the Kari Kari stage. Many of them have formed their own groups on the island or in other latitudes, while others have emigrated over time to other artistic groups existing in Rapa Nui. Without a doubt, they all carry the Kari Kari seal: discipline, excellence, perseverance and an immense love for their culture; something that oozes from their pores and is breathed in every one of our performances.