The Samoan slap dance is called the fa'ataupati. A group of men slap their own bodies, clap and stomp in perfect unison, and that sound is the whole of the music. There are no drums and no other instruments. It is the only Samoan dance performed only by men, and the only one danced with no instrument at all.
In this article
- What fa'ataupati means
- How the dance works
- Where it came from
- Slap dance vs other Samoan dances
- Where you see it today
- Frequently asked questions
What does fa'ataupati mean?
Pati means to clap. Fa'ataupati means to clap or slap forcefully, which is exactly what the dancers do. In English it is simply called the Samoan slap dance.
How is the slap dance performed?
The fa'ataupati is almost never danced alone. A line or block of men moves as one, and the dance stands or falls on how tightly they hold together.
- The body is the drum. Slaps on the body, claps of the hands and stamps of the feet make every beat.
- Timing is everything. One man early or late and the crowd hears it straight away, so the group drills until the sound lands as a single crack.
- It takes strength. The dance asks for stamina and a stable stance through every repetition.
- Coconut oil goes on first. The skin is oiled because the slapping can leave marks.
Where did the Samoan slap dance come from?
The story told most often is that it grew out of slapping away mosquitoes, with the movements turned into a dance in the 1800s. It is a good story and it is repeated widely, but it is not well documented, so it is best treated as the popular explanation rather than settled history.
What is certain is that the fa'ataupati belongs to a wider Samoan tradition where dance reflects everyday life, and that it has been performed by Samoan men for generations.
How is it different from the sasa and the taualuga?
Samoan dance has several forms, and each has its own role.
| Dance | Who performs it | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Fa'ataupati | Men, in a group | No instruments. The slaps, claps and stamps are the music. |
| Sasa | A group, men and women | Fast, synchronised movement to a drum, telling stories of daily life |
| Taualuga | Usually one dancer, often the daughter or son of a chief | The graceful closing dance of a celebration |
| Siva afi | Usually men | The fire knife dance |
For all four forms and what each one means, read our guide to Samoan dance.
Where can you see the slap dance today?
At celebrations and community events in Samoa, and on stages across the diaspora, from school cultural festivals in Auckland and Sydney to church anniversaries and family weddings. It has also crossed into contemporary dance: the New Zealand company Black Grace has worked the fa'ataupati into its pieces Minoi and Minoi 2.
Wherever it is performed, the reaction is the same. The first crack of thirty hands landing together stops a room.
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What is the Samoan slap dance called?
The fa'ataupati. Pati means to clap, and fa'ataupati means to clap or slap forcefully.
Who performs the fa'ataupati?
Men, in a group. It is the only all-male dance in Samoa, and it is rarely performed by one person alone.
Does the Samoan slap dance use drums?
No. It is the only Samoan dance with no instrument. The slapping of the body, clapping and stomping make all of the sound.
Why do slap dancers use coconut oil?
The skin is oiled before the dance because the repeated slapping can leave marks.
Where did the Samoan slap dance come from?
The usual story is that it grew from slapping away mosquitoes in the 1800s. It is widely told but not well documented.
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