How were frigate birds represented in the Kiribati ruoia dance sequence?

In the ruoia, a sequence of traditional standing dances from Kiribati, the representation of frigate birds is performed by up to six leading dancers. During the introductory and main segments of the dance, these leaders position themselves in front of the other participants—who are arranged according to their status within their patriclans—and pose as "gliding frigate birds".1

These movements are characterized by a slow, deliberate style that focuses primarily on the motion of the arms and hands. It is important to note that these specific dance gestures are not intended to illustrate the content of the accompanying song texts, which are often not fully understood by the performers or the audience.1