Louise Kimitete (24 June 1939 - 25 March 2020) was a French Polynesian choreographer, dancer and teacher of Tahitian dance.
Louise Kimitete was born in Hatihe'u, on the island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia in 1939.[1] She began dancing at the age of sixteen, with the group 'Arioi, led by Mémé de Montluc, then with Heiva, led by Madeleine Moua.[1]
After a stay of about ten years in Hawaii where she participated in film shoots, in 1981 she joined the Artistic Conservatory of French Polynesia (CAPF) created two years earlier in Papeete.[1] [2] She taught Ori Tahiti there for nearly forty years, becoming one of the emblematic figures.[3]
She counts among her students people who have become big names in Ori Tahiti, including Vanina Ehu, who became head of the traditional CAPF department,[4] Moon, her granddaughter, Hinavai Raveino, Tuarii Tracqui, Teraurii Piritua, Mateata Legayic, Moena Maiotui, and Kehaulani Chanquy.[5]
She retired in 2012.[6] She died on March 25, 2020, at the age of 80.[7]
In 2012 she was made a knight of the Ordre national du Mérite. The insignia was awarded by Manouche Lehartel.[7]
On her death, the Minister of Culture Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu and the director of the artistic conservatory Fabien Dinard paid tribute to her.[6] For the Minister, Kimitete “summarizes, through her incredible journey, the renaissance movement of traditional Tahitian dance”.[1]
In July 2022 La Poste issued a stamp with her image.[8]