Gilbertese dancing
Melanesian and Polynesian dance and music style
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Gilbertese dancing, which is accompanied by singing, is a characteristic dance style of the Melanesians and the Polynesians. It is a fusion of folk and ballad dance forms. Rhythm in the music is accentuated by beating with hand the upturned wooden boxes.[1] It is also called "I-Kiribati dancing".[2] it was part of people's cultural identity; missionaries tried to suppress the dancing as they found it scandalous.[2]