Book Reading #25 - Coming of Age in Samoa

Chapter 8: The Role of the Dance

Summary

Dancing is the only activity in which people from all age groups and both the sexes participate. There are many small informal dance sessions and there are formal dances at ceremonies like weddings. It at these informal dances that the children learn to dance. The dancing is usually started by the small children, young people and adults join later. Few young men sitting in the center provide the music. The dancers are the final arbiters of the excellence of the music and are allowed to stop and demand for better music as a price of continuing. The role of the audience is to provide encouragement to the performers. When the child starts performing, every little improvement is rewarded with applause. When the chief or the guests are present, the dancers dress in the best costumes and rub coconut oil on their bodies.

The taupo's dance is grave, aloof and beautiful. She is required to preserve a set, dreamy, nonchalant expression of infinite hauteur and detachment. The boy's dance is much jollier than girls'. Sometimes, the manaia or the jester is also a part of the dance and mimics the main performers. Sometimes, the manaia is so proficient that he becomes the center of attraction and entertainment. Some people imitate the dance of others. There is no stigma on such imitation. The author doesn't resent it and the crowd does not upbraid it. Dance serves as an important factor in the education and socialization of a Samoan child.

Discussion

After reading eight chapters of this book, it occurs to me that the people living in the villages of Samoa, in a primitive civilization enjoy the same things that we enjoy in the developed civilization. We also dancing, playing, teasing and light heartedly bantering each other. I believe these things are intrinsic characteristics of human nature and do not depend on civilization. Overall, it was interesting to know about the dance forms in Samoan villages and their significance in the socialization and education of the Samoan child.