ABSTRACT
Dance in Papua New Guinea is the main form of cultural expression embedded in the people's culture and everyday life. It encapsulates belief systems and is a medium for cultural preservation. Given Papua New Guinea's immense cultural diversity, dance plays an important role in maintaining the identity and tradition of various ethnic groups in the country. This chapter describes the gunge takwaku dance associated with the kraku-bandi (female initiation) ceremony of the Yangit people of Papua New Guinea. It provides an account of how the people of Yangit have over the years maintained this special performance aimed at promoting the value and status of women in Yangit village.
