Mickey Mouse (centre), garbed in traditional Pasifika article.
Mickey Mouse (centre), garbed in traditional Pasifika article.
Originally published by Māori Television
A video from Tokyo Disneyland Resort showing Mickey Mouse doing a traditional Samoan dance is going viral on social media.
It’s known as a Fa’ataupati [slap dance] and is part of the Mickey Mouse Rainbow Luau Show.
The Samoan Mickey Mouse - or as one commentator on social media called him, “Maika House”, translating Mickey into a Pasifika name - caught the attention of many Samoan cultural dancers.
Albert Tupuola, who is well-known for his performances with Tatau Dance Group, recently saw the video, saying, “Man, that looks seki [cool] as.”
The Luau Show is a 65-minute music and dance piece where Mickey and Minnie Mouse travel through Polynesia, introducing tourists to a few Pacific Islands.
It’s a theatre extravaganza that returned after a three-year interval due to Covid in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Japanese resort.
Christian Malietoa-Brown, well-known in Croatia as a Samoan who sings Croatian songs, is shocked to see how well Mickey moves.
“It’s cool - this is a specifically Samoan-looking Fa’ataupati, so it’s nice to see us on the world stage in another light.
“The dancing seems almost too good, so it might even be an islander under the mask.”
Mickey Mouse’s travels in the show also involve visits to Aotearoa, and the women of Japan are seen moving po rhythmically to Pātea Māori Club’s Poi E.
With countries performing traditional dances in traditional attire outside their home countries, some are questioning the appropriateness of it all.
Evalani Pouli is responsible for shipping women’s products to Tonga for free to provide menstrual products for those in need. “I honestly perceive some of the stuff I see by Disney Moana characters and people dressing up as a mockery, which I’m sure is not their intention.”
“But if I was to take my children there in the future, they definitely would know that they aren’t meant to be representing the Pacific.”
Minnie and Mickey Mouse part of the Mickey Mouse Rainbow Luau show.
Te Ao News understands musician Mevina Liufau Tokyo is responsible for the teachings at Disneyland Resort and the shows’ cultural aspects and is waiting for a response.
The Polynesian Disney icon has incited people of the Pacific to comment on the @808viral Instagram reel.
Lili Falepapalangi (@lilitetuini) commented with a play on the words regarding the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, calling it the “Mickey Mouse Kalapuhouse” - “kalapu” being the Samoan word for “club”.
Toleafoa Familia (@marley_kingszz) jokingly said, “Mickey’s Faakaupaki (Fa’aataupati) is better than my kids.”
Lynn Izumi Yae (teylarose1220) comments on the connection the people of Japan have for the Pacific - “Either it’s a real poly under there, or because Japan loves everything about the Polynesian culture, they are gonna do it right.”
The Mickey Mouse Rainbow Luau Show is hosted at the Polynesian Terrace Restaurant four times a day.
