Pourquoi story

How Dance came to Samoa.    Written by Yvette and Fine

Long ago, when all was quiet and sorrowful there lived a couple and their five daughters with beautiful long gold hair. Serena, Sina, Samaria, Sasa’e and Silei.The large family lived in a village where no songs were sung, no parties were celebrated and where no children played out on the streets. The mother chose all of her daughters to start with an S, this was because her gratefulness desperately craved to honour Samoa. But her husband was not so cheerful on this opinion and chose the youngest daughter of his childings a new name. “ I will name the youngest daughter of mine after my dearest deceased mother, Teuila”. As young Teuila grew old her elder sisters would pelt her with words. “TEUILA’S IN! TEUILA’S IN! TEUILA’S IN THE RUBBISH BIN! This caused Teuila to cry. Most times when the water that filled Teuila’s eyes flowed down her cheek, she would run into her room emotionally and upset, crying herself to sleep. But this unusual time she carried herself and the tears flowing down her pale yet brown skin and ran until she reached an unfamiliar, yet comfortable forest. She lay her legs onto the green blanket beneath her and weeped until a light shaded blue bird appeared. The coloured bird sung a beautiful melody that carried Teuila up off the soft grass and onto her feet. She twirled and jumped until a loud scream came upon her presence.  “Teuila! Teuila! Come Home! Supper is awaiting you!” Before Teuila even realised what her hands and feet were performing, she ran her feet back to the village of her home. The next morning Teuila ran back to the small forest, only to find more blue shaded birds chirping a more beautiful yet elegant sound. She sat on her feet and moved her hands to the rhythm of the birds tweeting something much like the word Siva, so Teuila named her actions and movements after the blue shaded birds tweets. Teuila’s determination to bring happiness to her village had grew and normal afternoon Teuila finally had enough courage and confidence to present siva to her village. She ran herself outside only to find a muddy layer of ground and leaves scattered upon the brown dry grass.“Where is everyone” She mumbled underneath her breath. Teuila questioned herself something she knew the answer to. Her hope of bringing joy to the village had not succeeded, not yet. Teuila thought of many hypothesis’ of what might bring villagers outside until she had a brilliant idea, it was crazy but crazy enough to work. Quickly, young Teuila ran herself to the forest and called upon the beautiful butterflies. “Butterflies please come to the village I live upon and show off your rare wings.” The butterflies accepted Teuila’s quest and followed Teuila to the village. Teuila called out “COME OUT! COME OUT ! COME OUT AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES THAT FLY UPON ME !”   The villagers absent-minded, Teuila rushed to the forest and called upon the birds.“Birds, come out and follow me to the village. Chirp the sound that I had once heard when I visited”. The birds fluttered their wings and followed Teuila.   As Teuila came back the villagers discontinued examining the butterflies and stared at Teuila, they were amazed at the butterflies but still curious about what this young girl was trying to achieve.  The birds began to chirp the beautiful sound they had once made and Teuila swayed her hands and twirled her feet. Teuila’s family came out only to smile and make their own Siva moves. “HOORAY TO TEUILA FOR RESTORING THE HAPPINESS OF THE VILLAGE” shouted out the villagers. Teuila had fallen in love with Siva so much that when she was old enough, she changed her name to Siva with the permission of her father. The village had once again come to life. That is the story of how “Siva”or when translated in English “Dance” came to Samoa.