【大洋洲·汤加】拉卡拉卡的汤加说唱舞蹈Tonga Rap Dance in La Caraca

    在汤加这个南太平洋岛国，整个社区参加传统舞会作为庆祝帝王加冕礼和其他典礼。汤加的民族舞蹈，拥有复杂的传统样式，音乐也别具一格。在汤加语中，“拉卡拉卡”意味着“走轻快或者仔细”。几百名男人和妇女一起参加这些有生气的表演。男人成排地位于观众右侧，他们精力旺盛，显示出十足的男子气，象武士一样地跳舞。在左边，妇女们则以优雅的手势和优雅舞步相协调。跳舞的同时附以鼓掌声和唱歌，在这样的表演氛围里，数百位舞蹈家动作协调的情态和浓郁的复调音乐给人以深刻的印象。在表演后面的有创造性的力量是诗人，作曲家，舞蹈教练和表演导演。根据传统，拉卡拉卡需要连续更新。从20世纪60年代起，表演的新作品已经在数量上减少。因为拉卡拉卡传统上是被口头传送的，很少有出版物存在。下降可能与各种各样的因素包括来自娱乐，经济困难和在学校课程方面的不足，尤其是与当代同类型的竞争有关系。并且和年轻的作曲家，很少接触古老的文化修养和其他传统的文化来源有关系。

    “拉卡拉卡”在汤加语中的意思是“快速而又谨慎的舞步”，源自一种被称之为“米娄弗拉”的舞蹈。该舞蹈出现于19世纪，20世纪在王室的大力支持下又得以复兴。演出一般持续30分钟左右，可汇集几百人的队伍，通常排成两行，右边为男性，左边为女性(从观众席看)。男性的舞步节奏明快有力，而女士们则舞步优美、动作飘逸。两队舞蹈演员边跳、边唱、边拍手，通常会有一支合唱队伴唱。密集的复调声部伴随着几百个舞蹈演员的摇荡舞姿，组成了激动人心的场面。
    演出的创造力源自“普纳克”——身兼诗人、作曲家、编舞的艺术指导。按照传统，“普纳克”从汤加人民的历史、传奇故事、精神财富和社会组织中获得灵感，寻找多样题材，以不断更新“拉卡拉卡”的演出内容。

    Tonga's national dance has a complex traditional style and unique music. In Tongan, "Lakaraka" means "walk lightly or carefully". Hundreds of men and women took part in these lively performances. Men stand in rows on the right side of the audience. They are energetic, show full masculinity and dance like warriors. On the left, women coordinate with elegant gestures and steps. Dancing is accompanied by applause and singing. In such an atmosphere, hundreds of dancers are impressed by their coordinated movements and rich polyphonic music.



    In Tonga, a South Pacific island country, the entire community participates in traditional dances to celebrate the coronation of emperors and other ceremonies. Tonga's national dance has a complex traditional style and unique music. In Tongan, "Lakaraka" means "walk lightly or carefully". Hundreds of men and women took part in these lively performances. Men stand in rows on the right side of the audience. They are energetic, show full masculinity and dance like warriors. On the left, women coordinate with elegant gestures and steps. Dancing is accompanied by applause and singing. In such an atmosphere, hundreds of dancers are impressed by their coordinated movements and rich polyphonic music. The creative forces behind the performance are poets, composers, dance coaches and performance directors. Traditionally, Lakara needs to be continuously updated. Since the 1960s, the number of new performances has declined. Because La Caraca is traditionally transmitted orally, few publications exist. The decline may be related to a variety of factors, including entertainment, financial difficulties and inadequacies in school curricula, especially contemporary competition of the same type. And young composers, rarely contact with the ancient culture and other traditional sources of culture.



    "Lakaraka" in Tongan means "fast and cautious dance", which originates from a dance called "Milovra". The dance appeared in the 19th century and revived in the 20th century with the strong support of the Royal family. The performance usually lasts about 30 minutes and can bring together hundreds of people, usually in two lines, male on the right and female on the left (from the audience). The men's dance rhythm is bright and powerful, while the women's dance steps are graceful and elegant. Two teams of dancers dance, sing and clap their hands, usually accompanied by a chorus. The dense polyphonic voice, accompanied by hundreds of dancers'waving movements, forms an exciting scene.

    The creativity of performance comes from Punak, who is also a poet, composer and choreographer. Traditionally, "Punak" draws inspiration from Tongan people's history, legends, spiritual wealth and social organizations, and seeks diverse themes to constantly update the content of "Lakaraka".