HELO Magazine
Danse du Feu de la Tribu Baining, NOUVELLE BRETAGNE, PAPOUASIE NOUVELLE GUINEE
By Eric Lafforgue. The Baining fire dance is the most impressive performance i've seen in my photographer life!
The dance is very complicated to see, as the clans do not want to perform at any time. The dance is only performed at night time, the women MUST NOT touch the masks.
A big fire is set in the middle of the village, and then 40 dancers will wear the giant mask to jump on the fire, and also dance on it, supported by 20 musicians. The main thing is aslo to give a kick in the fire, as you can see on the picture, and the main job for me was to avoid the projections!
The dance can last for a night.
During the dance, the dancers take some kids with them and go into the fire: it is the best way to cure them!
Painstakingly built from entirely natural rainforest material, the masks worn by the dancers are said to represent the spirits of plants and animals. Of varying sizes and styles, the masks are painted using colours created from special bush materials and plants.
Galim village, East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea.
Danse du Feu de la Tribu Baining, NOUVELLE BRETAGNE, PAPOUASIE NOUVELLE GUINEE
By Eric Lafforgue. The Baining fire dance is the most impressive performance i've seen in my photographer life!
The dance is very complicated to see, as the clans do not want to perform at any time. The dance is only performed at night time, the women MUST NOT touch the masks.
A big fire is set in the middle of the village, and then 40 dancers will wear the giant mask to jump on the fire, and also dance on it, supported by 20 musicians. The main thing is aslo to give a kick in the fire, as you can see on the picture, and the main job for me was to avoid the projections!
The dance can last for a night.
During the dance, the dancers take some kids with them and go into the fire: it is the best way to cure them!
Painstakingly built from entirely natural rainforest material, the masks worn by the dancers are said to represent the spirits of plants and animals. Of varying sizes and styles, the masks are painted using colours created from special bush materials and plants.
Galim village, East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea.