By Sally Tiwari
Dance is one aspect of the culture of indigenous people of Papua New Guinea which we need to safeguard, protect and promote, National Cultural Commission’s Dr. Jacob Simet said.
During the launching of the book ‘A Focus on Dance in Papua New Guinea’, Simet, who is also a contributor to the book, said traditional dances were under threat because of modernization.
He said dance was more than a body movement. It is a metaphor that has links with history traditions and politics.
The book is a compilation of papers presented during the 2010 international dance day symposium in Goroka and is edited by Naomi Faik Simet and Don Niles.
The book discusses issues relating to the study and the practice of dance in Papua New Guinea, highlighting the role of dance as an important tool in education and a medium for cultural preservation.
Contributor Faik Simet said some of the resolutions generated from the challenges identified by the contributors included:
- The art of dance to be given more prominence along with other expressive arts;
- More awareness to be carried out through the international dance day event, and;
- The importance of dance as a tool in maintaining cultural identity.
University of Papua New Guinea Theater Arts lecturer Sophie Naime launched the book and described it as a valuable contribution to our understanding of dances.
Naime said the book provided schools, researchers and practitioners with research and study materials in the field of dancing in PNG which had existed for a long time under the wing of theater or drama.
The book is a compilation of papers presented by 11 contributors and was published by the music department of the Institute of PNG Studies after one year of editing.
Related articles
- New music centre for UOG (edunewspng.wordpress.com)