The Hela Community in Port Moresby city delighted the public at the Hubert Murray Stadium with a thrilling contemporary dance at the Meganesia Cultural Festival on Saturday 28th 2025.
The Tari dance group from Erima, Wildlife, in Port Moresby demonstrated the symbolic snake-dance passed down from generations. The dance-lead Mr. Amos Patrick. The cultural dance represents the famous “Tagaldi River” in Hela Province that intertwines from Hela all the way to Purari, Kikori and to Kerema in the Gulf Province.
Although the contemporary dance was short, it embodied a spirited piece of culture from Papua New Guinea’s Highlands region.
Mr. Patrick from Tari Town Hela Province, emphasized that the dance embraces the famous river from Tari, the Tagaldi River and its geography, stretching into a snake-like figure through Tari.
“The dance is from a past generation symbolizing the river, we keep the memory alive to remember and embrace our elders and their respect for the land,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Patrick described the relationship of the 10 dancers as family though they are extended family, they are a part of one bloodline.
“We were brought out as the New Tari Cultural Group under our Tari community Association. We are all family dancing, and we represent the Tari New Association from Wildlife.”
The Hela group had one unique member who stood out from the dance, a 7-year-old named Raymond Patrick who had full attire on. Although his performance was not in sync with his group, he showed true spirit on stage in front of a packed Hubert Murray Stadium. The group consists of 10 members, four young girls, one boy and 5 male adults, proudly bringing to life the spirit of Hela Province.
Mr. Patrick thanked the NCDC Management and his Community Association for allowing their Hela Dance-group to be a part of the Meganesia Celebration, to embrace their culture while celebrating the nation’s upcoming 50th Independence Anniversary on a big platform.