4 Best Performing Arts in Easter Island, Chile

The island's longest-running dance group spends most of the show getting members of the audience on the stage to dance with the performers. It's done with little technology (no flashing lights or microphones) and is in a fairly small space on the main street. Members also perform a very good sau sau, the island's famous courtship dance. They perform on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

One of three traditional dance groups on the island, this one performs at the Vai te Mihi cultural center next to Amigo Secreto restaurant. Part of every show involves willing participants pulled up onto the stage to dance with the traditional Rapanui dancers. The dances are supposed to be among the least influenced by other Polynesian styles and feature traditionally (read: barely) clad, body-painted men and women telling stories through dance. They perform Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

If you'd like to be pulled up on stage, increase your chances by sitting in the front row for 199,000 pesos extra (you need a reservation).

This cultural center is aimed at the island's school-aged children to keep Rapa Nui traditions, including songs, poetry, and dance, alive. Performances are frequent (often by the children themselves) and free to the public. You can usually find the kids rehearsing in the garden outside.

This dance group brings participants off the tourist track right to the host's home, where there is traditional face painting, an explanation of the ceremonial type of cooking called umu par, and finally a dance performance put on by the Haha Varua Collective (you can also just attend the dance performance). The dance is traditional Polynesian and Rapa Nui and interactive with the audience. Performances take place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.