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.

Remo Dance, Traditional Dance From East Java

Remo dance is a welcome dance from East Java that depicts the dynamic character of East Java. Areas that use this remo dance include Surabaya, Jombang, Malang, and also Situbondo. This dance is packed as a picture of courage from a prince who is struggling in the battlefield. So the side to the courage of the dancers is needed in this remo dance show. The dance, which was promoted in around 1900, was once used by Indonesian nationalists to communicate to the public.



This dance is always accompanied by gamelan music in a gending consisting mainly of saron, gambang, bonang, gender, slentem, siter, flute, kenong, kempul, tap, and gong and slendro rhythm. Usually, will use the rhythm of gending Juli-Juli Suroboyo tropongan. Remo dance can be danced with a woman or style of men, whether it is displayed together or alternately. Usually, this dance is performed as an opening dance of art ludruk or wayang kulit.



Clothing or clothing worn by each region in East Java in a remo dance has its own distinctive. Style Surabayaan or also Sawunggaling, dancers will wear clothing consisting of a black top that presents 18th-century clothing, black bludru pants with a gold ornament and batik. At the waist, there is a belt and a dagger. On the right thigh, there is a shawl hanging down to the ankle. Meanwhile, a female dancer will wear a bun in her hair.



While in basic style Malangan fashion is also the same as Surabayan style clothing, but that distinguishes the long pants up to touch the ankles and not be embedded with a needle. Fashion Jombangan style is basically the same as Sawunggaling style, but the difference is the dancers do not use T-shirts but use the vest. One more is a female outfit. Women's dress is different from the style of the original remong. The dancers will wear buns, wear black socks to cover the chest, use a brush to cover the waist up to the knee and use only one shawl that is embedded in the shoulder.



The movement of the legs are dynamic and dynamic become the most important characteristics. This movement is supported by the existence of bells mounted on the ankle. This bell rang when the dancer stepped or stomped on stage. In addition, other characteristics of the movement of the nod and head shake, shawl or sampur movement, facial expressions, dancers, and dancers make this dance more attractive. Although formerly the art of dance is used as an opening in the show ludruk. But with the passage of time, the function of this dance began to shift away from the opening show ludruk, which is a welcome dance guest, especially for state guests.



In addition, the remong dance is often displayed in regional art festivals as an effort to preserve the culture of East Java. Therefore, today remo dance is not only performed by male dancers, but also be performed by female dancers. So nowadays the female breed dance type appears. In performances of female dance, usually, the dancers will wear a different dance fashion with original remo dance dress performed by male dancers.

Dance Sekapur Betel, Traditional Dance From Jambi

Dance Sekapur Betel  is a traditional dance originating from Jambi. This dance is a welcome dance to the big guests. The dance of whiting was created by Firdaus Chatab in 1962. In 1967, this dance was later reorganized by OK Hendri BBA. This dance describes roomy and open feelings that Jambi people have for visitors visiting their area. The number of dancers in this dance is 9 female dancers and 3 male dancers. The dancers have 1 (one) person in charge of holding the umbrella, 2 (two) guards and others dancing.



Unfortunately, at this time the enthusiasm of citizens to dance sekapur betel reduced. This is seen from the number of dancers who shrunk, which amounted to 6 (six) people, 1 (one) male dancer in charge of bringing cerano and other female dancers.



Movement, high prayer, stretched, decorated (using the ring, bracelet, earrings, lipet and calak powder), half-turn movement, full play becomes part of this dance. The movement is done in low and medium level position, while the pattern of the floor that is tailored to the needs and also the staging place. When done in a building or indoor, then the floor pattern can be done, but if outside the building or outdoor, then the floor pattern is rarely done.



Cerano or a container containing betel leaf sheets, umbrellas, Kris is a property used in this dance. For clothing or clothing, the dancers will wear Jambi traditional brackets. Hummus folk songs Jeruk Purut, the sound of violin, accordion melanggam Melayu, accompanied by gambus, gong, and drums also accompany the dance sekapur betel.



The dancers decorated his body with a bandage songket, underwear brackets while decorating the head of an edit consisting of banyan, rocking flowers, and cempako. Other sweeteners that are also used are a lotus, pending and bracelet. But over the times, the accessories used to increase, such as wearing Shoulder Shoulder, Canoe Bracelet, Bangle Bracelet and also Bracelet Puru, while bend Pandan, Banyan Sunting, and also Goyang Flower into jewelry on the head.



Actually, the name or term of dance sekapur betel is quite diverse, as diverse as the variant of this dance, one of which is the welcome dance. Initially, dance sekapur betel is called the dance offerings, then undergone some changes, so that the Dance of Welcome. The difference with dance sekapur betel is that this welcoming dance is a new creations dance that is set as close as possible to the Kejei Dance. The number of dancers in this dance can be adjusted to the place, can be a daughter can be, and can also be paired.



The Rejang Lembak community called this Sambu dance as Kurak dance, although in the end the name of the dance was chosen to be standardized. The dance accompaniment music uses Kejei music.



Movement in this dance consists of dance, the hand is lifted over the shoulder. Then the dancers will perform the guest prayer, the move raises the hand up the chest. After that the surrender of the series will do half-squat pose and half-standing if this dance is performed outside the house, meanwhile, if the dance is done in the house then the movement of the floor will be done.