Jkt Post, 20 Aug 2007
Dero dance unites people

PALU, Central Sulawesi: At least 10,000 people from all walks of life united in a circle, holding hands while moving in time to the music.
They were gathered Saturday evening at the invitation of Palu's Tadulako University in Central Sulawesi to celebrate its anniversary and the country's Independence Day.
The mass Dero dance had earlier look like it was going to break the record for the country's biggest folk dance. But rain had forced the dancers to stop dancing before midnight.
The Dero dance, also known as the Pontanu dance, comes from Poso and is regularly performed during wedding ceremonies, harvest festivals and other thanksgiving rituals.
Since 2000, however, the dance has rarely been performed in Poso city and Muslim-based villages as hard-line Muslim leaders claim it against Islam principles.
But the dance is still performed in many other places in the province.
Tadulako University rector Sahabuddin Mustapa said the dance is a local tradition that should be maintained.
"We can't ban the Dero dance. Don't look at it from the negative side but rather see it as a means of uniting people, and bringing peace and togetherness," he said. -- JP