Whenever a cruise ship comes to the Isle of Pines, there is a grand welcoming of the passengers, and folk-dance performances. We had always missed seeing the dancers during our earlier visits, so we were looking forward to this one. Earlier in the season, the High Chief had banned cruise ships due to the danger of passengers bringing the flu virus to the island. This was the first cruise ship to arrive this season. The male dancers had painted their bodies with white paint, often representing the human skeleton. Costumes were made of dried ferns, pandanus leaves, grasses and coconut fronds. Dancers were accompanied by men beating on tall drums, and singing women in lovely flowered dresses. The grassy “stage” was set directly in front of where ADAGIO was anchored, forming a lovely backdrop for the show.
