Gandrung Marsan Dance, Traditional Dance From East Java

Nine men entered the stage. One of them will advance to the front corner of the stage and sit down. this man is like applying for permission to wear the crown that is in front of him. Not long after the application for permission, the crown was then charged. He then mingled with 8 (eight) other people. The show begins. This is a traditional dance called gandrung Marsan. The dance originated from Banyuwangi, East Java Province.



Historically, this dance is derived from art that developed in the year 1890. At that time, there is an art presented by a group of men aged 7-14 years. This art is accompanied by drum musical instruments and also tambourine. They perform from one village to another.



One of the dancers who continue to perform the arts until he reached the age of 40 years is Marsan. The figure of Marsan is so admired. As a dancer, he is known to be very good at playing a role as a woman. Not only that. The admiration of the people of Marsan is also due to the moral message conveyed in every dance performed.



At that time, there was often competition between dancers. Until not infrequently the fight in the show. Through the dances he brought, Marsan tried to convey a message of peace to the community.



Meanwhile, the word gandrung taken because the art that is brought around from village to village is very loved by the community. In its development, this gandrung art is not just an entertainment. In each of his performances, a message of propaganda to fight the invaders was inserted. The results obtained from the show are also used to help the fighters.



In dance gandrung Marsan, reappointed Marsan figure as a person who has great service in the development of this dance. And since Marsan is an excellent performer in the role of women, the movements in this trance also look elegant, graceful and sassy. But in the middle of the dance, the dancers put a mustache on their faces. The motion is then changed, to be more assertive and also brave.

The Splendor of the Sianok Gorge on Bukit Tinggi

Sianok canyon is a steep valley that has been in the middle of Bukittinggi City, West Sumatra Province. This long, winding valley lies south of the Koto Gadang Gorge up to the Sianok Six Suku Gorge, and also stops at Palupuh. The steep valley of this canyon has a depth of 100 m and also has a length of approximately 15 km with a width of 200 m. This Sianok canyon is also a separator of Sumatra island into 2 parts that form elongated or also called Patahan Semangko.



Throughout this fracture, the walls are very steep and perpendicular it also forms a green valley which is also the result of inclining or the movement of the crust of the earth. In 2007 due to the earthquake in Sumatra, some of its walls collapsed, but this Sianok Gorge still stunning the tourists who come to this area. Nevertheless, this Sianok Gorge also received The Best Tourism Object in the 2007 Padang Tourism Awards competition held in Padang, West Sumatera.



Not only that the scenery on the steep cliffs, Batang Sianok or (stems in Minangkabau language meaning river) that has flowed in this Sianok Gorge also adds to the beauty of tourist sites in West Sumatra Province. The water is quite clear this also empties into the Indian Ocean. Sometimes also the flow of the Sianok River is often used for water sports activities such as for example, rafting, kayaking, and canoeing.



In addition, along the riverbank is still found rafflesia flowers that grow very fertile and also a wide range of medicinal plants. If you want to see wildlife, can also go into the forest in this Sianok valley. Some animals that can meet the gibbon, then long-tailed monkeys, deer, leopard, then a wild boar, and also probably tapir Asia.



If from Padang, to get to the area of Bukittinggi can also use ground transportation by public transport vehicles. It takes about 2 hours. Arriving in Bukittinggi area, the journey can be continued with public transport that has been found many times to the area of this Sianok Gorge object. For convenience, it is recommended to better use a private car or also with a travel agent.