Learn the art of boduberu in the Maldives
While much of the Maldives’ cultural heritage is bypassed for beautiful beaches and heavenly spa treatments, there is a tiny pocket of paradise, where guests are being encouraged to embrace the archipelago’s roots through indigenous music and dance. Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort has introduced a new weekly boduberu drumming and dance class to its activity programme, which promises to ignite the creative energy of guests, regardless of their ability.
The most lively and popular form of traditional Maldivian music, boduberu is played to the accompaniment of drums, tambourine, harmonicas and singing, and takes its influences from African culture. The songs vary in mood and rhythm but are usually about love or herosim, beginning slowly and gaining tempo progressively, reaching a frantic crescendo of clapping, chanting and dancing. Dancers jump and jerk to the beat and sway their hips in an informal, easy-to-follow routine – which also acts as a great workout!
Ideal for men and women alike, the boduberu class is free and takes place in the evening, within the thatched, rustic setting of Vilu Reef’s Nautilus Bar, and is a fun way for guests to connect with the magic of their tropical setting and each other. After a professional boduberu demonstration, the dance troupe and musicians gradually encourage participants to join in with the dancing and drumming, familiarising them with the instruments and encouraging them to feel the music’s hypnotic rhythms and enjoy the warm carpet of sand underfoot.
Located in South Nilandhe Atoll, Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort is a green and fertile resort - known locally as the 'Garden Of Eden' for its idyllic natural beauty. Reached by a 35-minute seaplane transfer from Malé and surrounded by uninhabited islands, this diminutive haven of lush vegetation, swaying coconut palms and pristine white sandy beaches offers understated laid-back luxury and a wealth of facilities. These include an infinity pool, fitness room, Sun Spa, PADI dive centre, table tennis, volleyball court and a selection of restaurants and bars. The island also boasts a beautiful lagoon one side and a reef the other - ideal for snorkelling and diving.
Lead-in prices with Thomson (thomson.co.uk) start from £1,499 per person at Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort, based on two sharing. Available for selected departures in May and June, the price includes return flights from Gatwick, accommodation on a half-board basis, resort seaplane transfers, taxes and surcharges.
