This last Sunday I watched the finale of 'Dancing with the Stars' 2019. Having always loved dance and music from a young age in learning cultural dance: Cook Islands, Niue, Maori, Samoan and contemporary in growing up in church and sometimes in high school, it was so refreshing to see Manu Vatuvei win the total prize.
For those of us who've been brought up in a community where dance and music is an expression of what we enjoy: be it in cultural dance, or expressive dance in church or at Socials or Disco dances (which used to be big in the 1970s - 1980s) or enjoying music and dance at home, or at birthdays, weddings etc. It was such a joy to watch Manu having a great time and even showing a few tears of vulnerability along the way.
In fact, I enjoyed his performances as a Pacific (Tongan) man expressing his joy through dance that I had to vote for him, a few times, in order to hopefully secure his position as the most favoured dancer of the season and also to support his fundraising charity which was 'Kids Can'. So fitting for what he accomplished.
It's sad in that often people think that ballroom dancing is for sissies, but when you see Manu's effortless dancing you get to understand that it actually takes a lot of coordination, listening to instructions, learning the moves and telling a story through expressing in movements and showing emotions and that's why Manu won my vote plus the fact that he was a great role model for males in dancing.
But I mustn't take away from his dance partner who really honoured him through sharing their beautiful choreography and breathtaking moves although I'm not sure that I'd feel very comfortable if my husband danced so close to another woman as they do on the show but I guess that's that nature of the dance.
So again, congratulations to 'the beast' in Rugby League but a beauty in dancing and all the best to the Tongan Rugby team tomorrow as they play again the Kiwi's. May the best team win!
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