Dances

Indonesia also has many kinds of cultures. One of them is traditional dance. If you are interested in dancing you will find three hundreds kinds of dance.

1. Kecak dance

Kecak dance is one of traditional dances which come from Bali. This dance usually performs in the evening. This is danced by more than a hundred people. They sit in a circle with a big torch in the middle. They move together, sway their bodies back and forth while movement their hands and produce a variety of sounds. The kecak describes when King Rama fought against King Rahwana who kidnapped Shinta, Rama’s wife. Finally King Rama wins the battle.

2. Bedhaya Ketawang

Bedhaya Ketawang is also one of the traditional dances which come from Solo and Jogja (Central Java). We often see this dance in some activities such as in a certain ceremony or ceremony enthronement of king, festival or form of entertainments. Bedhaya Ketawang played by 9 dancers. Each dancer has their specific name and duty. Their names are Batak (first dancer), Endhel ajeg, Endhel Weton, Apit ngarep, Apit Mburi, Apit Meneg, Gulu, Dhada, and Boncit.

This dance usually accompanied by Javanese music orchestra called Gamelan. This gamelan name is Gamelan Kyai Kaduk Manis. It consists of many music instruments such as kendhang Ageng (big kendhang), Kendhang ketipung, kenong, and kethuk

3. Barong Dance

Barong is a Balinese dance performed on occasion of a temple feast or other religious ceremonies. Two male dancers always perform this dance. The barong looks like an animal, but to the Balinese its appearance means far more. To them the Barong represents all that is good, protecting man against the evil, personified, by Rangda. The struggle between these two is performed in the story of Calon Arang. In Its climax, a few spectators participate in the fight to help the Barong. However, neither Barong nor Rangda is defeated. Good and evil continue to exist side by side. The one can not exist without the other.

The Balinese think of both Rangda and the Barong as very secred. In the temple, their masks are kept in a special holy place., and the Balinese worship them with sacrifices.

Traditional Javanese dances such as Serimpi and Merak are usually smooth. The dances move their hand or legs smoothly. They are different from Balinese dances. Balinese dancers move quickly and dynamically. They are also good at moving their eyes when they dance.

There are still many other dances:

1. Aceh Province has seudati dance and Saman Meuseukat dance
2. In North Sumatra Province we have Serampang Dua Belas dance and Tor-tor dance
3. West Sumatra Province has Lilin dance, Piring dance, and Payung dance
4. Riau province has Tandak dance, Joget Lambak dance
5. Jambi Province has Selampit Delapan dance, Sekapur Sirih dance
6. South Sumatra Province has Tanggai dance, Putri Bekhusek dance
7. Lampung Province has Jangget dance, Melinting dance
8. Bengkulu Province has Andun dance, Bidadei Teminang dance
9. Jakarta Province has Topeng dance, Yapong dance
10. West Java Province has Topeng dance, Kuncaran dance, Jaipong dance, Merak dance
11. Central Java Province has Serimpi dance, Bambang cakil dance
12. Yogyakarta (Jogja) Province has Serimpi Sangupati dance, Bedhoyo dance
13. East Java Province has Remong dance, Reog Ponorogo dance, and Ngremo dance
14. Bali Province has Legong dance, Kecak dance, and Janger dance
15. West Nusa Tenggara Province has Mpaa Lenggo dance, Batunganga dance
16. East Nusa Tenggara Province has Perang dance, Gareng Lameng dance
17. West Kalimantan Province (Borneo) has Monong dance, Zapin Tembung dance
18. Central Kalimantan Province (Borneo) has Balean Dadas dance, Tambun & Bungai dance
19. South Kalimantan Province (Borneo) has Baksa Kembang dance, Radap Rahayu dance
20. East Kalimantan Province (Borneo) has Perang dance, Gong dance
21. Nort Sulawesi Province has Maengket dance, Polo-palo dance
22. Central Sulawesi Province has Lumense dance, Pule Cinde dance
23. South East Sulawesi Province has Dinggu dance, Balumba dance
24. South Sulawesi Province has Bosara dance, Kipas dance
25. Maluku has Province Lenso dance, Cakalele dance
26. Irian Jaya Province has Musyoh dance, Selamat Datang dance

Some of those dances are very popular in Indonesia. We often see those performances in opening ceremonies, festival and any other forms of entertainment Sometimes we have to spend our money to see such dances performance in the entertainment center. It will be more expensive if the dances are popular.

As professional dances they are seriously. Most of them have a dancing studio. Some who want to be a dancer, can learn dances in a dancing studio. This studio is for practicing and creating new dances. They are held by professional dancers.

*We wait for your visit in Indonesia

Copyright Zaki Muclision Indonesia 2008

GOOGLE search

Custom Search