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The Isolo Dance

The most interesting part of the Lake Sentani Festival is the Isolo Dance. Make sure you don’t miss it when you visit the festival.

The Lake Sentani Canoe Dance

Isolo or Isosolo dance is the Lake Sentani Canoe Dance from Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua. Isolo is divided into two words which is Iso that means joyful and expression of feelings through dancing; and solo means a group of people from different gender and age dancing together.

Isolo Dance

So, Isosolo means a group of people dancing joyfully together expressing their feelings in full spirit in respect to the Ondofolo (The elderly at their village) after the group has accomplish a mission that was given by the Ondoafi. Usually they perform their dances on a big canoe and go around the Lake Sentani from one village to another.
Isolo dance: A group of different age and gender dancing joyfully together
Isolo dance: A group of different age and gender dancing joyfully together
Tifa as their traditional music instrument accompanied the Isolo dance
Tifa as their traditional music instrument accompanied the Isolo dance
The Isolo dance are expressed during the following events of:
1: Building houses for Ondoafi, Head of Tribe, Obhe or Khombo Mau (Walobo Mau).
2: Having a boar from hunting results (Obho Waliaumn).
3: Having a crocodile from hunting results and Kha Isolo.
4: Receiving an abundance of harvest (Ani Ehaa Isolo)
5: Ebba Weeha Isolo: sending food and drinks for the level of Ondofolo with Ondofolo.
6: Roboni Relaa Isolo: dowry payment.
7: Miyea Haiboi Isolo/Miyea Waoboi Isolo: accompanying the girl for marriage.
8: Manggeu Isolo: A dance about sending foods by the uncle for the relative (girl) that will have a marriage outside.
9: Yang Ebumboi Isolo: A dance to close the upper house with a roof.
10: Wa Felesi Isolo: A dance to send a board for a house barrier of Ondoafi or Head of Tribe.
11: Bombey Isolo: To carry the King’s pole Nolohu Bha.
12: To escort the cousin to his/her home after being taken care at his/her’s Mother’s village by his/her Uncle and Aunty.

Isolo dance circle the Lake Sentani from one village to another

Their dance performances accompanied by Tifa – a traditional music instrument that produces sound by striking with hands – added by wearing their traditional cultural clothes and a very beautiful nature as where they live is such a wonderful thing to see. To see and learn directly how they have live historically and some still practicing it in the present time is a worthwhile thing to do. For more information, please go to www.indonesia.travel.

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