Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2018 | Page 144

Wanaragua
Dance
Dance is an integral part of the Garifuna culture.
One of the most well-known dances is the
Wanaragua.
The Wanaragua is a masquerade dance with great
social and festive importance that has evolved
throughout the Caribbean for the last 200 years. Its
pomp and pageantry is elegant, beautiful and full
of finesse. The dance is traditionally performed by
men. Their costumes involve elaborate headresses
complete with feathers and mirrors. They wear
bands of shells around their knees with white shirts
and black or white pants. Black, green, or pink
ribbons cross their chests depending on the time
of year the dance is done. The wanaragua is one
of the few dances where the drummers follow the
dancer’s movements, and not the dancer dancing
to the beat of the drum. This allows for an exciting
show of skill by both the dancer and the drummer.
There are other mime dances that have social
and entertainment value. A significant one is the
Jungai. This mine dance demonstrates life skills and
life events in the household and in the workplace
setting.
These dances have taken a unique evolution
path within the Garifuna culture. Interesting and
varying costumes, team management, and dance
movement and step combinations have developed
in the various Garifuna communities in Central
America. A diverse set of songs and drumming
patterns have also evolved over time in the various
locations where these dances are practiced.
INFORMATION SOURCE: National Garifuna Council