Traditional Dances
Churu' (YAP)
Yapese people are known throughout Micronesia for their skill in traditional dancing. Dances are performed whenever there is a feast or on special occasions such as the marriage of a chief. It is not just one section of the society who dances but rather everybody is expected to know how to dance. As soon as children are mature enough to learn the instructions, their parents began teaching them. The Yapese dance called Churu’ has been passed down cautiously from generation to generation with songs of messages from history and teachings of the villages. Dancers dress their bodies with coconut leaves and flowers and their skins rubbed down with turmeric and coconut oil to give the skin a golden shine. These dances are only performed in groups of men or women separately. Yap perhaps best represents and maintains the art of dancing in the entire Pacific.
Though many types of dances, standing and sitting are of Yapese tradition. These dances are only performed in groups of men or women.
Mainly, one of dance what children or young man and woman, “war” dance came from outer island ,and the origin of the art of fighting with a cudgel. It is new what dancing with music came from japan.
Lehp, Wen, Tokia, Sapei, & Kepir (POHNPEI)
Pohnpeian traditional dances are comprised of both men and women wearing grass skirts and mwaramwar – headdresses made of beautiful flowers and yarn leaves. The bodies of the men and women are rubbed down with coconut oil to give the skin a golden shine. The unique dances include the stick dance for men and women (Kepir for men and Tokia – women), the marching dance (Lehp), where both men and women sing along as they perform the dance.
Other Culture
Churu' (YAP)
Yapese people are known throughout Micronesia for their skill in traditional dancing. Dances are performed whenever there is a feast or on special occasions such as the marriage of a chief. It is not just one section of the society who dances but rather everybody is expected to know how to dance. As soon as children are mature enough to learn the instructions, their parents began teaching them. The Yapese dance called Churu’ has been passed down cautiously from generation to generation with songs of messages from history and teachings of the villages. Dancers dress their bodies with coconut leaves and flowers and their skins rubbed down with turmeric and coconut oil to give the skin a golden shine. These dances are only performed in groups of men or women separately. Yap perhaps best represents and maintains the art of dancing in the entire Pacific.
Though many types of dances, standing and sitting are of Yapese tradition. These dances are only performed in groups of men or women.
Mainly, one of dance what children or young man and woman, “war” dance came from outer island ,and the origin of the art of fighting with a cudgel. It is new what dancing with music came from japan.
Lehp, Wen, Tokia, Sapei, & Kepir (POHNPEI)
Pohnpeian traditional dances are comprised of both men and women wearing grass skirts and mwaramwar – headdresses made of beautiful flowers and yarn leaves. The bodies of the men and women are rubbed down with coconut oil to give the skin a golden shine. The unique dances include the stick dance for men and women (Kepir for men and Tokia – women), the marching dance (Lehp), where both men and women sing along as they perform the dance.
