Katrili Dance Brings European Steps to Minahasan Celebrations
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- Cultural Blend: Katrili, a partner dance from North Sulawesi, blends Minahasan traditions with European influences and takes its name from the French quadrille.
- Steps and Commands: Four to eight couples perform waltz and gallop steps, following a dance leader’s commands in French and Dutch.
- Celebrations and Welcomes: Performances feature at cultural festivals, weddings and official events, as well as receptions for cruise ship visitors.
JAKARTA, Indonesianpost.com — In Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, a traditional dance brings together Minahasan customs and European influences.
Known as katrili, the dance takes its name from the French word “quadrille” and is performed in pairs.
Typically featuring four to eight male-female couples, katrili combines two types of steps: a waltz in 3/4 time and a gallop in 2/4 time. A dance leader directs the performers with commands in French and Dutch.
Common calls include “En avant!” (forward), “Balance!” (sway in place), “Zwaai!” (turn) and “Salut!” (salute).
Female dancers wear long dresses or kebaya, traditional blouses paired with wraparound cloth skirts, with their hair neatly arranged in buns. Male dancers wear long-sleeved shirts or suits with trousers, sometimes adding classic European-style hats.
Travelers can watch katrili at cultural festivals, regional tourism events, official functions and weddings. The dance is also performed to welcome international visitors arriving in North Sulawesi aboard cruise ships.
Its blend of classical European elements and local Minahasan traditions holds particular appeal for European visitors, especially those from Spain and Portugal.
For these visitors, katrili can evoke both familiarity and admiration, offering a glimpse of their own countries’ historical influences woven into Minahasan culture. [Detik/bilah]
