Deeper Dive: Māori Haka Taps into Deep Emotions

Extreme facial expressions are the first thing many notice when they see a haka performance. It’s the same thing that people tend to notice with Getty’s sculpture of The Vexed Man, too. Haka is a traditional war dance of the Māori people, indigenous to New Zealand, and is now used in a wide range of ceremonies and sports events. In conversation with Lilit Sadoyan, Māori cultural practitioner and choreographer Amelia Butler explains the symbolic meaning of haka’s elements and how it can allow access to one’s deepest self. Butler is founder and CEO of Learn Maori Abroad. If you missed this week’s progressive muscle relaxation exercise inspired by The Vexed Man, look for it on your podcast player or find it on our website. You can watch this episode on YouTube here: https://gty.art/4wZysOS Find images, a transcript, and more resources on our website: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/deeper-dive-maori-haka-deep-emotions/ Subscribe to OMMM be the first to hear new episodes.  Production team: Host: Lilit Sadoyan Producers: Zoe Goldman and Gideon Brower Video Editor: Jeremy Rhodes Mixer and Sound Designer: Jaime Roque Executive Producer: Christopher Sprinkle For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/If Objects Could Talk is a family-friendly show where Getty museum objects, like a Greek vase or porcelain clock, come alive to share their story: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/ Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.  Learn more about all we do for art on our website: Getty: https://www.getty.edu/Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/