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by Gabrielle M. Samson (Author)
This story tells of an Australian woman's life and work on Atauro Island, learning the island's history and culture, and shares stories of those with whom she lived in a time of great change.
During a period when East Timor was occupied by a harsh Indonesian military regime and a fierce resistance movement challenged it, Gabrielle - an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university - was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for the community.
Supported by the university, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island, to live amongst them as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It didn't take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island, its people and an Indonesian co-worker, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island amongst an amazing community of people.
Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle's experience through six of those years as the little country struggled for, and achieved, its independence. As the unexpected referendum for independence grew closer life on the mainland in Timor became dangerous while on the island things remained superficially calm. When the results were announced - overwhelming choice for independence - an unstable Indonesian drug-taking military commandant on the island threatened community members and the safety of the island and Gabrielle and her partner were forced to leave. They became refugees on a government ferry with hundreds - both Timorese and Indonesians - fleeing Dili.
Gabrielle returned to Timor Leste and worked with the community for many years following independence.
