Subject: 'austrLasia' # 337

PACIFIC DANCE IN THE LITURGICAL LIMELIGHT

Julian Fox

SUVA: 28th April -- Pacific Islanders generally, have dance as a major cultural expression, and this, from time to time has caused problems for some Church authorities. Last year, to the considerable surprise of many attending prelates, Samoan men in cultural costume requiring very little cover from the waist up, danced The Word down the aisles of St. Peter's Basilica for the opening of the Oceania Synod. It prompted the usual run of scurrilous jokes including the supposed remark by one Cardinal to another that if the Pope should request the organizing prelate's head on a platter, it would be done! On the contrary, the Pope was in full agreement with the wonderful sacred gesture that characterizes many processions of the Word throughout the Pacific.

Now, in Honolulu, formal confirmation of the liturgical acceptability of one Pacific dance, the 'Hula' has been announced, after a parishioner, who felt offended by what she regarded as 'entertainment in Church', complained directly to Rome. Hula, like most Pacific dance forms, uses the hand, body and feet to tell a story. It is frequently accompanied by chanting, singing and the playing of native instruments. Bishop F.X. DiLorenzo went to Rome to fight the case for inclusion of Hula in a variety of liturgical circumstances. He won his case on the basis of 'sacred gesture' rather than 'dance', since the Church does not allow entertainment for entertainment's sake in the sacred liturgy. The Hawaiian 'Advertiser' has praised the ruling to permit Hula, saying "the Church is promoting openness and inclusiveness in the best tradition of the Islands. Accommodation rather than fiat has thankfully carried the day".