Haka

Traditionally, the haka was more of a war cry rather than a dance, and it was performed before battles by Maori warriors to scare off the enemy. Like many dances, there are several versions of the haka, but the most popular is the Ka Mate, which has been made globally famous by the All Blacks New Zealand rugby team. The dance is a series of chanting, stomping and chest beating, and, if the Ka Mate is not performed in complete unison before battle, it is considered bad luck for the warriors. The haka has been performed by the New Zealand national rugby team before games since 1905 and has since been adopted by other national teams in New Zealand.