CREATIVE DANCE OF DU'A
My name is Marissa Ananias. I am guidance and counseling teacher as well as a creative dance coach at Saint Maie Monte Carmelo Catholic Senior High School, Maumere. Last year, I accompnaied my students in participating in a competition with the theme "Future Leader Fest", organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Sikka Rengency. The competition was attended by seven dance groups from seven Catholic senior high schools accross the eastern part of Flores Island, with Sikka Regency serving as the host on that occasion.
In this competition, our group performed the Du'a Toru Dance. This dance was inspired by a female hero from Tanah Ai, Sikka Rengency, who in 1912 led her people to drive out the Dutch colonozers using only bamboo arrows. This is reflected in her heroic motto: A'u Toru Wait, tere inan ama Geron la'i geke, siot ganu ular uta, petor ganu ohu tawan", which means: "I am Toru, a woman as well as a mother, the wife of Mr. Geron, swift like a puthon, agile like a bamboo snake." Through this motto, Du'a Toru affirms that women are not always weak, slow in action, or slow in thought. Women are not only mothers full of gentleness, but must also be strong, courageous, firm, and agile individuals. The movements and expressions in this dance illustrate that true strength does not lie in sophisticated weapons, but in courage, unity, and sincere love for the homeland.
The experience became even more valuable because the dance we performed won second place in the competition. It was a source of pride for both myself and my students, as wellas a motivation to continue loving and preserving our national culture.
Here, I include the link to the performance so that it can be watched directly:
https:youtu.be/tEzCRa3rUGMsi=kkk7UopvhJW6J4u