Today I had my very first Tongan Dance lesson.
Una, Sala and I will be performing in a "konsetti" (concert) next month. The entire village will be there.
All 80 families.
And me - only I won't be wearing my palangi clothes.
I will be in a special dress - probably made from grasses, tree bark (usually from the mulberry tree) or leaves and my legs, arms and chest will be oiled up so that people in the audience can come up and stick pa'anga (the Tongan currency) on me. It is said that if the money doesn't stick that you are not a virgin. Um. Ok.
Una was very patient with me as she went through the moves for the first minute of the dance. Tongan Dance is a lot different from any dance that I am familiar with (hip hop, the awkward slow junior high kind, African dance, Zumba, etc.), but it is a lot of fun to do. You are mainly in a position that looks a lot like a wall sit only without the wall. There are a lot of hand movements and doing your best to look graceful (this is the part that I am still learning how to do). Graceful doesn't really come naturally to me.
But I'm working on it.
I'll keep you updated on my progress as the big day approaches, but for now I am going to go practice pointing my toes. It's not easy when you have a webbed left foot.
Did I say too much?
Una, Sala and I will be performing in a "konsetti" (concert) next month. The entire village will be there.
All 80 families.
And me - only I won't be wearing my palangi clothes.
I will be in a special dress - probably made from grasses, tree bark (usually from the mulberry tree) or leaves and my legs, arms and chest will be oiled up so that people in the audience can come up and stick pa'anga (the Tongan currency) on me. It is said that if the money doesn't stick that you are not a virgin. Um. Ok.
Una was very patient with me as she went through the moves for the first minute of the dance. Tongan Dance is a lot different from any dance that I am familiar with (hip hop, the awkward slow junior high kind, African dance, Zumba, etc.), but it is a lot of fun to do. You are mainly in a position that looks a lot like a wall sit only without the wall. There are a lot of hand movements and doing your best to look graceful (this is the part that I am still learning how to do). Graceful doesn't really come naturally to me.
But I'm working on it.
I'll keep you updated on my progress as the big day approaches, but for now I am going to go practice pointing my toes. It's not easy when you have a webbed left foot.
Did I say too much?
I cannot wait to see photos of this! Glad to see everything is going so well. I miss you so much love-I am so proud of you! xo Chach
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