SHP show postponed to July

By YVONNE HAIP
THE much-anticipated mini-cultural show to be staged at Pangia in Southern Highlands has been postponed to next month.
This is because preparatory work, including accommodation for participants, has yet to be finalised.
The show will feature the dying cultures, dances and beliefs of the remote Wiru area in the district as well as other fading traditions of the province.
Project originator Daniel Lucas said the show had attracted many participants.
Lucas, who is famous for performing the original black snake dance, said groups from the Hela region, Western Highlands, Morobe, Port Moresby, and Madang had shown interest.
After years of performing in other cultural shows, Lucas has returned to his district with big plans to revive the province’s dying cultures.
He aims to make the show the stepping stone for the province’s annual cultural show.
Local MP Peter O’Neill has given K20,000 for the show, which will be held in Apanda village.
This year’s event is expected to be bigger and better than the one held last year.
Lucas said one of the aims of the show was to minimise urban migration and create awareness so youths were proud of their heritage.
He said the show would help the province economically.
He said if successful this year, he planned to make the event an annual tourist attraction.
He said the province boasted the renowned Huli dancers and other unique traditions that had not been exposed.
He said people in the province travelled far and wide to display their culture and an annual local show would benefit them in a greater way.