Known as one of the true melting pots of the Caribbean, St. Maarten is, not surprisingly, home to a wide variety of dances from soca and bachata to whining and merengue. However, only one dance has the honour of being St. Maarten's official dance: The Ponum Dance. The island's only surviving folk dance originated in the time of slavery making it between 165 and 200 years old. History teaches us that it was performed under the flamboyant tree to celebrate the abolition of slavery. It is danced while people sing the Brim song. Today, many locals see it as a way to connect with their past.