Dance Plate, West Sumatra

By Arfan Apandi — Senin, 11 Juli 2016 — Add Comment — Traditional

In addition to a wealth of natural attractions, West Sumatra also has many  art and cultures that will leave you gobsmacked. One of which is a dance named Tari Piring(Dance of plate). The last few years, the Government invested the Dance  Plate to be one of the assets to attract tourists. 

Dance of the dish comes from West Sumatra, precisely in Solok. At first, the dance of the plate is done by women and men to bring a patron to the Gods as a form of gratitude for the harvest which gives very satisfactory results. They dance with a very vivacious while holding plates in the Palm of his hand. There are three types of variations of movement in dance plate/dishes, i.e. tupai bagaluik (squirrels cope), bagalombang (wavy), and aka malilik (common sense wrapped around). 

However, along with the influx of Islam then dance is experiencing a shift so that it is no longer to worship the God but rather to be displayed in the event a special day  or a wedding as well. The dancers any shift from initially mixed, are now only performed by women who dressed up pretty. Perhaps you would not believe without seeing firsthand the dancers move fast, attractive, vigorous and very beautiful with the platters in no way sway much less fall. The dance begins with the dancers who started moving according to Dance choreography by putting a plate in each hand without regardless or shifts at all. 

Mood merrier with instruments used to accompany dance, namely talempong and saluang. The costumes of the dancers are usually brightly colored so as to support the excitement of the event. You'll also hear the rhythm of sound generated from  plates that are held with the ring that was deliberately worn around the finger of a dancer. Then, be prepared to hold your breath for a moment at the middle of the show, because there will be attractions are throwing a plate. Yes, the plates held by the dancers intentionally thrown so high  then stepped in with its offshoots of dance movement continued. This illustrates the feeling of elation over a bountiful harvest. Amazingly, it will not be one any wounds in the legs of the dancers even if they stepped it with bare feet. Generally, the dancers in this traditional dances is odd, such as three, five, or seven dancers.

Dance Plate is very famous throughout the world. This dance has been staged outside of West Sumatra, such as Jakarta, Medan, Pekanbaru, and more. Proudly,  the Dance of the plate were also staged in order to tour the festival culture of the archipelago. Not only within the country, dance of the plate has also penetrated into the international world and ever staged in the festival cultural Archipelago in Malaysia, Singapore, Serbia, as well as some countries in Europe.

If you want to display the Dance on event you hold, you can rent a group dance is so that the dancers present in your city and presents traditional dances of West Sumatra directly for Your invited guests. Of course, will make the entire watch be marvel over  unique choreography as well as agility movements of the dancers with the plates in his hands.

Tari Saman(dance with thousand hands)

By Arfan Apandi — Senin, 27 Juni 2016 — Add Comment — Traditional

Tari Saman(dance with thousand hands)

 Tari Saman Aceh derived from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD). The uniqueness of the dance of Aceh is raising its nimble, flexible, and lightweight. Dances of Aceh are generally accompanied by music that the source could be from musical instruments (tambourine) or members of the body of a dancer, such as passage of fingers, Pats of hand or Pats his chest. Tari Saman or Seudati is an example of the typical dances of Aceh that has been very popular in Indonesia even in the world.

Saman dance has a unique movement since the movement displayed include hand movements, body, and head and done while sitting. The movement follows in Tari Saman Aceh derived from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD). The uniqueness of the dance of Aceh is raising its nimble, flexible, and lightweight. The movement follows the verses that are sing.

 Saman dance usually performed by teens or tens of men, but the amount must be odd. However, in its development of this dance is played by women. To do this dance, good cooperation is needed among the dancers.

In General, Saman dance played by the 17 dancers with the following conditions.

• Dancer number 9 is called Pengangkat. Pengangkat is the main character in the tari Saman. He determines the motion dance while singing the verses.

 • Number 8 and 10 Dancers called Pengapit.   The figure Pengapits heip Pengangkat , either in motion or dance lyrics that are sing.

 • Dancer number 2-7 and 11-16 are called Penyepit.   Penyepit is a regular dancer in favor of dance movements directed by the Pengangkat.

 • Number 1 and 17 Dancers called Penupang.   Penupang is a dancer who is on the far ends of the left and right. In addition to functioning hold the integrity of the position of dance in order to keep closing and straight.

On the Saman dance, dancers sit kneeling position and depressed body weight on both feet. Saman dance space on pattern limited the height position of the body, from a sitting position kneeling turned to a position above the knee are called berlembuku. This movement is the highest level. As for the lowest level when the dancers bend forward 45◦ called tungkuk or while leaning back up dancers 60◦ called langat. There is also a Saman dance movements accompanied tilted to the left or to the right called singkeh. In addition, there is an exercise in sitting position pitch to rightforward or to the left-back called lingang. In the Saman dance, hand gestures are very dominant because it serves as a motion and music. Hand gestures in the dance of Saman among others as follows.

 • Cerkop is  the movement of both closed hands  and directional.

• Cilok is the tip of the index finger as if to take a light objects such as salt.

 • Tepok, namely hand movements are done in a variety of positions, such as horizontal or propeller.

called tungkuk or while leaning back up dancers 60O called langat. There is also a Saman dance movements accompanied tilted to the left or to the right called singkeh. In addition, there is an exercise in sitting position pitch to kanandepan or to the left-back called lingang.      In the Saman dance, hand gestures are very dominant because it serves as a motion and music. Hand gestures in the dance Saman among others as follows.

 • Cerkop, i.e. the movement of both hands berhimpit and unidirectional.

 • Motion i.e. Cilok, the tip of the index finger as if to take a light objects such as salt.

 • Tepok, namely hand movements are done in a variety of positions, such as horizontal or propeller.

As for the motion of the head in the Saman dance is as follows.

 • Anguk, namely Chief as a nod in the tempo slow to fast.

 • Girek is the movement of the head spin like a propeller.

Saman dance performed without music instruments. As for dance accompaniment Saman is the movement of the hands and the body of the dancer.  Here are some ways to get the tempo sounds,  moderate to fast.

• Pats both hands, the usually moderate to fast up-tempo.

 • Pat both palms to the chest, usually up-tempo.

 • Pats one of the Palm of the hand to the chest, usually a moderate up-tempo.

 • Friction thumb with middle finger, usually a moderate up-tempo.

In Saman dance shows, all the movements are combined to produce a beautiful dance. The power of Saman dance not only from the poem is done , but a compact movement also became more value in this dance. 

Tari saman had many names. Not only is dance a thousand hands, but also a Saman Gayo in Aceh and the Middle-East, Saman Lokop in East Aceh, and Saman Aceh Barat in West Aceh.

Malay traditional dance originallyt from the region of Southeast Aceh in Gayo Highlands. The name "Saman" taken from the name of the creator and developer of the Saman dance of Sheikh Saman. He was one of the Ulama(scholars) who spread the religion of Islam in Aceh. That's why the poem or song that the Arabic language is used in the saman dance and Aceh. Usually, the poem used in  saman dance contains the messages of dakwah(religious advice), satire, advice, and romance.