Vergaf

Vergaf is a traditional ceremonial dance of the Arunai people in the highland region of Valoria. Performed during the autumn harvest festival, it honors ancestors and reinforces communal bonds. The name vergaf comes from Arunai roots often interpreted as “gathering flame,” though etymologies vary among elders.

Performance typically involves 12 to 40 dancers forming a circle or spiral. Movements include stomping, sliding footwork, arm extensions, and coordinated hand gestures. The dance lasts approximately eight to twelve minutes, with tempo increasing in longer versions. A drum called the tuma provides the primary beat, supplemented by a reed flute named the sire and a chorus of singers that deliver call-and-response cues.

Costumes feature dyed wool robes with geometric patterns, woven belts, and maize tassels. A central dancer carries a carved staff and, in some villages, a small lamp or torch that is lit at the climax. Symbols on costumes reflect ancestral motifs and harvest symbolism.

Social role: Vergaf functions as a vehicle for teaching community values, oral history, and cooperation. It is typically learned through apprenticeship with older dancers and is performed at weddings, harvest ceremonies, and village reunions. Urban groups have adapted its steps and timing for contemporary stages, sometimes blending with other dance forms.

Revival and study: In recent decades, cultural organizations have documented vergaf as part of regional heritage projects. Researchers in ethnography and dance studies examine its structure, music, and transmission, noting its adaptability while preserving core traditions.