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Each performer bends her knees and leans over sideways, supporting her body with an outstretched arm - or she may rise to the position from the ground. Beginning with her right arm on the ground, she flaps her elbow on her side twice in time to the music, jogging her feet at the same time. Then she twists forward, reaches down with her free hand and supports her weight on it, and flaps the right elbow four times. This completes a cycle of the song's rhythm. Each performer continues in this way until another takes her place.
The song teaches girls not to lie too close to the fire, like small children, because it is bad for them. From a woman's first menstruation to her menopause, she is regarded as ritually 'hot' and dangerous, and is always symbolized by the colour red. |
