 The dance is performed by men, two of whom represent opposing captains or leaders while the others are the warriors supporting them.After an opening ritual, the captains engage in a mock-duel with a spear ("sanokat") and long knife ("lopu") while their supporters use a long knife in the right hand and a narrow wooden shield in the left hand.The shield is referred to as a salawaku, or by a local name such as the Tobelo "o dadatoko".