About the Sundrop Dance naming scheme

[Cilia]

Gonna throw out that I think the theme in play is "lost in translation." In native Vanu the name conveys the force and terror of the dance, but translated into Eorzean Basic (or whatever they call it) by our Echo it just sounds really cute and mild.

I don't think it's an Echo goof (since people besides us can understand the Vanu), it's just a cultural difference.

As you noted, the Sundrop Dance is based on Haka, a traditional war dance of the Maori people. Like the Sundrop Dance, its purpose is to psyche up the dancer(s) and intimidate their opponent(s). It's basically a challenge, "come get some!"

From our point of view, it's just a silly and goofy dance, since we're far more prone to immediately getting to the stabbing and shooting. It's very important to the Vanu, however, because it's a part of their history and culture, and allows them to resolve conflicts without bloodshed. (Unless you're dealing with the Vundu, but we all know they're jerkholes anyway. Maybe I should try using it the next time I'm sent on a mission to steal their food...?)