Dance of Wallis and Futuna

It's a club dance performed without a song 'to the rhythm of a wooden pate (gong) or an empty kerosene tin.

Two parties of male dancers approached each other from opposite sides of the mala'e (village green), usually in columns of twos.

The Tā-paki (Futuna) or Tapaki (Uvea) is an implement dance using broad, flat paddles (paki) which are twirled, tossed and slapped by the dancers.

[citation needed] Uvea Museum Association holds the first 16mm colour film of dance on Wallis in its collections, which was recorded in 1943.

The lakalaka in particular is normally Wallis and Futuna's main dance seen in the islands; performing for the favour of their King, or after a Kava ceremony.

The Soamako has been described as an informal type of dance accompanied by continuously accelerating music, the final speed of which was 'limited only by the energy of the singers and dancers'.

As well, there is an informal type of Soamako of today, described as a 'combat dance' between two groups of dancers who enter from opposite sides alternately and try to better the performance of their opponents.