DANCES OF SUMATRA
TARI PIRING // PLATE DANCE
Region - West Sumatra (Padang) *available with live music ensemble if requested
In Islamic West Sumatra the traditional dances have secular, ceremonial functions: to celebrate harvest time, welcome guests, or to honor a new village chief. Tari Piring incorporates everyday movements, such as work in the rice fields and the preparation of food. This dance symbolizes the farmers’ daily activities and is also an expression of the farmers feeling of joy and gratitude due to the abundance of the harvest. It comprises several quick movements with plates that are sometimes thrown to the air which creates the most throbbing atmosphere throughout the dance.
Choreographer: Tom Ibnur
TARI SAMAN // DANCE OF A THOUSAND HANDS
Region - Aceh
From the Gayo highlands of Aceh on the island of Sumatra, the Saman dance was originally performed to celebrate noble occasions, as well as to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad. “Saman" is the most popular dance in Aceh and is well-known abroad with the name "Dance of the Thousand hands." The performers kneel in a row on the floor and consists of varying movements of clapping hands. The dance starts with slow movements and increases its tempo gradually to great speed and finally come to a sudden stop. It is an electrifying blend of dance and music, truly a feast for the eyes.
Choreographer: Marzuki Hasan
TARI INDANG // TAMBOURINE DANCE
Region - West Sumatra (Padang) *available with live music ensemble, if requested
Beginning and growing in the mosques of the Pariaman community in the coastal area of Minangkabau, this dance is usually performed in ritual or ceremonial events. Indang, which is the mini tambourine used in this dance, becomes the main rhythm with each dancer’s movement. The songs sung in this dance is based off of religious meaning as this dance evolved within the mosques of the communities.
Choreographer: Tom Ibnur
TARI GENDING SRIWIJAYA // GENDING SRIWIJAYA DANCE
Region - South Sumatra (Palembang)
Gending Sriwijaya is the name of the song and the traditional dance from Palembang, South Sumatra. This song is sung or played during the Gending Sriwijaya dance performance. Both was created to describe the splendor, cultural refinement, glory and the grandeur of Srivijayan empire that once succeed on unifying the western parts of Indonesian archipelago
Choreographer: Supriyadi Arsyad
TARI RANTAK // PENCAK SILAT (MARTIAL ARTS) DANCE
Region - West Sumatra (Padang)
Unlike other West Sumanteran dances that are very refined and graceful, Rantak dance is the dance that depicts the bravery of the Minangkabau people especially in self-protection. Pencak Silat, the traditional martial art of West Sumatra, with movements such as taping, hand movements, waving and jumping, dominates the Rantak dance. The composition takes great consideration of space, time and energy (power) thus resulting in an entity presented as an art of expression. This dance describes the dexterity and vigilance of Minangkabau society at their daily life.
Choreographer: Gusmiati Suid
TARI ZAPIN
Region - Riau
Zapin is a Malay dance form that is popular in Sumatra (Riau Province, Jambi province, Riau Islands Province, North Sumatra, and Bangka-Belitung Islands). It is believed to have been introduced by Arab, Muslim missionaries from the Middle East in the fourteenth century. It used to be performed exclusively for religious ceremonies but through the years it has become a form of traditional entertainment.
Choreographer: Supriyadi Arsyad
TARI NAIAK PADI
Region - West Sumatra (Padang) *available with live music ensemble, if requested
This dance symbolizes the farmers’ daily activities, like working in the rice field and preparation of the food and is also an expression of the farmers feeling of joy and gratitude due to the abundance of the harvest.
Choreographer: Tom Ibnur
TARI TOR TOR
Region - North Sumatra
According to history, this dance is used in rituals associated with spirits. The spirit is invoked and “walked” into the stone statues, which was the symbol of the ancestors. Those statues were then moved like dancing, but with a rigid motion.
Choreographer: Amalia Suryani & Supriadi Arysad