tahitian ladies dancing

It’s the ninth day of Christmas, so let’s see what we’ve got, here…

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

…nine ladies dancing.

Well, this is a tough one. We’ve been all around the world, and it seems like there’s always an opportunity to see a performance of traditional local dancing, no matter where you go, in the world. In the course of my personal travels, I’m remembering the time when I went to some kind of dinner show in La Paz, and was pulled up on stage to do “The National Dance of Bolivia,” which, according to the emcee, involved running around in a circle holding the earlobes of the person in front of you. I think that was probably just something that he made up, but if anyone out there is an expert in Bolivian Dance, please contact us to settle the matter once and for all.

Then there was the time that we took a two day boat trip down the Mekong River from Luang Prabang, Laos, to the Golden Triangle where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet. We overnighted in a remote village where the local Hmong village performed a traditional dance for us — that seemed much more authentic.

But of all of the places where I’ve traveled, it always feels to me like Polynesian dance is the best chance that most people have to see authentic, traditional dance, even in a traditional tourism setting. In Hawai’i, for example, kids go to hula lessons the way kids in Ohio go to tap, ballet and jazz class. There’s truly an effort to preserve the indigenous culture through dance, and to share it with visitors.

So, for “Nine Ladies Dancing,” we looked for an itinerary that would give our clients a really beautiful way to experience local dance, and we think one of the best opportunities would be on a graceful yacht in Tahiti, with our preferred travel partner, Windstar Cruises.

 Windstar’s 148-guest Wind Spirit features wide teak decks and billowing white sails that are tailor-made for cruising Tahiti’s islands. Her year-round home is Tahiti, but between late 2021 and mid-2022 she will be taking a vacation and our newly transformed 312-guest Star Breeze will take her place.  She features new efficient engines, new bathrooms in all suites, two new restaurants, the new World Spa by Windstar, a new pool and so much more. 

Whichever yacht you take, Windstar glides gracefully through the shallow waters teeming with schools of tropical fish as you island hop to Moorea, Bora Bora, Tahaa and more. 

They anchor in shallow lagoons unreachable by large cruise ships, so you can access the Watersports Platform featuring complimentary kayaks and paddleboards right from the stern of the yacht. Then snorkel in crystal clear waters with complimentary snorkeling equipment for the duration of your cruise.

BUT! (And here’s where the dancing comes in), while you’ll spend your days snorkeling in aquamarine waters you’ll also be discovering Polynesian culture both on board and off. Windstar brings Tahitian dancers on board, teaches you how to create fragrant leis, and serve authentic Polynesian cuisine. You can lie under the palms on a deserted Tahitian motu as you watch the fire dancers light up the night during Windstar’s complimentary Bora Bora Celebration Destination Discovery Event. And you might actually get a dance lesson of your own!

Nine ladies (and some men) dancing is just part of the authentic and immersive cruise itinerary.