Manus Group Set To Tour Europe

[***aCe***]

PALUAI SOOKSOOK – a Port Moresby based Manus Cultural Dance Group is set to mesmerize audiences in France, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Italy and Sweden with its gyrating and provocative body movements that swing in unison with the rhythm of the Garamut (drums).

The dance’s special character is sometimes described as “erotic and majestic or suggestive” but the group likes to think that it depicts a “lifestyle of openness and joy” on Manus, especially their own Baluan Island. The drum’s rhythm and the dance patterns depict stories of Baluan lifestyles including bride price, feasts and festivals with some depicting the people’s knowledge of animals such as the birds and fish.

Paluai Sooksook is not new to the international scene having performed in Australia and South Korea. The group will now represent Papua New Guinea at the 42nd Pyrenees European Festival from June 21 to September 8, 2004.

The Manus Dance Group - Paluai Sooksook with their hippy moves

[***aCe***]

The group has been invited by the Mangrove Studios in New Caledonia to participate at the festival.

The Tourism Promotion Authority has undertaken to raise additional funds for the group by organizing fund raising activities. In return, the 23-member Paluai Sooksook group to Europe will distribute flyers, posters, pamphlets and brochures on Papua New Guinea Tourism, especially the Papua New Guinea Experience, at all the shows and festivals during their four-month trip.

A detailed program of the Paluai Sooksook tour will be posted soon on: www.pngtourism.org.pg. Anyone wanting to find out more or assist the group can contact the TPA.

The following story was submitted by Colin Taimbari -Public Relations Coordinator for Tourism Promotion Athourity - this story can also be found on www.pngtourism.com.pg

...And here doing it in style

[begut]

Hi Colin,
I am interested to find out more about their tour to Europe. I am from Germany and noticed that this dancing group is not scheduled to perform in Germany. Is that correct? Could you, please, find out for me, if there is an opportunity for the Paluai Sooksook performancers to come also to Germany?

I am personally interested in this group, because I used to live many years on Manus Island myself and visited Baluan Island a few times. In regard with my work in POM in liaison with the then called National Theater Company I also was in charge once to organize a joint performance with the Australian High Commission and Aborigini dancers and PNG dancers. I engaged at that time the dancers from Baluan! The event took place at the National Theater at that time. (could be 1988 or 1989). You may understand now better my interest in this dancing group.

I hope to hear from you soon and would be happy, if also the person in charge of the group could contact me personally.

Please, use either e-mail address: fotobali@onlinehome.de or
begut32@yahoo.com.

Best regards
Bernhard Guttau

[muppie]

Hi Bernhard,

It is best to go to www.pngtourism.com.pg and contact colin from there.

[***aCe***]

Hi there Bernhard

Thanks for your keen interest on this. You can get the travelling dates from Colin Taimbari of Tourism Promotion Authority. I am sure he will provide the necessary information for you. Colin can be contacted on email: ctaimbari@pngtourism.org.pg or
Phone: +675 320 0211 - at the tourism office here in PNG.

Kind Regards
alison

[meripng]

good Luck On Your Tours And I Hope You All Will Represent Your Country With Pride....

I Am Happy For You All...

Cheers,
Meripng...

[blade_runner]

They seem to be a good group too huh ?

[scuba-diver]

yeah they sure are .I just wish it was the same with politicians of New Guinea though.... all they do is bring shame to the country if only.........

[MISSISSIPPI1234]

Beautiful and Cultural Ambassadors- Too bad
about the cast of characters around the HONEY POT

[Robert Songan]

I would like to you have and itinerary for the group in Europe.