Ma’ulu’ulu dance - My Speech

Kia ora,Talofa, Malolelei and greetings to you all.
Who knows what the Ma’ulu’ulu dance is?

I am going to talk to you all about the Ma’ulu’ulu dance in Tonga which unites all people through their dance and music.

The Ma’ulu’ulu is a traditional Tongan dance, performed by a group of seated men and women. The dance form is from the ancient Tonga ‘Otuhaka having been put together with the Samoan Ma’ulu’ulu dance form.

The performers of the dance sit down in a row on the ground, cross legged, usually the right leg over the left. If possible men and women alternate. To the left/or right /are the nafa, Nafa is the drums. But the Tanafa are the ones who do the drumming. Behind them stand the langituʻa, the singers. On formal occasions, like a presentation to the king, the dance master also stands in the back.

If there are many dancers,at a really huge occasion, they sit in rows spread out. The dancers of the front row sit on the ground. The second row on a low bench, the next row on a higher bench, And so forth. The last row usually stands, or if that is still not enough, they may stand on benches and tables. If the dance is an effort of a local community, young and old perform. The youngest children then cutely sit at the ends of the rows.

So in Tonga people come together to sing and dance. They are all united in this art form of music and dance. Different people in Tonga may dance and sing slightly differently yet they are all united despite their diversity. Well this is one example of “Unity in Diversity”

Dance away and live in peace and harmony is what I say to all people.

By Howard