Now I invite you to know about my province's culture, it is
about traditional dance from Minangkabau ethnic. May you know about this dance,
we call “Tari Piring” (The Plate dance).
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Tari Piring is one of traditional dance of Minangkabau. From
its name we know that means we will see performance of beauty dancers who dance
with plates. Usually, the dancers an odd number such as three, five or seven
dancers. The dancers will bring plates in their palm while swaying of its to
every direction, even turning down with their palm turned down and clicking
ring on their finger to the plate, it will give sound like
“ting...ting...ting...”. The dance movements are very agile, neat, fast and
simultaneous from each dancers, amazingly, whatever energetic moves the dancers
make, the plate continue to stick as if glued to their palms. For those who
first saw this dance, you will feel so proud and amazed and you will feel worry
if plates will fall to the floor.
The plate dance come from Solok city, one of city from West
Sumatera province. The first is purposing of this dance is ritual of gratitude
Minang society over abundant harvest. This dance took place the first time
before Islam entered to Minangkabau, at that time they worship Gods, so this
expression as symbolized the gratefulness of the people to the Almighty Goda which
was performed as ritual the harvest time. And, more beautiful girls brought
food were placed in a dish. After Islam entered to Minangkabau, this expression
as offering to the kings or royalty and only as entertainment for the
community.
The dance is as one of important asset for West Sumatera
government and it often holds some dance festival in local and international
such as America, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Dutch, Pakistan, etc. And,
sometime ago this dance was shown in four cities in Pakistan, one of them is
Karachi.
The plate dance is so unique, it movements imitate farmer grow
and express gratitude when the harvest. The dance swaying two or three plates
and sometime put candle lit on it. And, that's so amazing that candles will not
be extinguished until the dance is finished.
The other amazing from this dance is two rings on fingers and clicking
it on plates. In the end of dance, as dramatic climax, you will see the dancers
will smash the plates onto the floor, delibaretly breaking them into sharp of
pieces. The dancer will then continue dancing on the pointed shards, remaining
completely uninjured. That's why this dance makes everyone amazed. Don't know
exactly what the meaning of this, maybe it expresses how happy and excited they are about harvest.
Beside that, the dancers must have high concentration and must
be clean about heart, not arrogant and not in periodic time for girl dancers.
Before thread and dance on shards of glasses, dancers must take wudhu and a
diviner must do prayer. The plate dance is combined with quickly music from
Talempong, Gandang and Saluang. The dress of dancer are light colour such as
red and yellow just for easy to know and attract the attention of audience.
As we know that this dance movements imitate farmer, such as
hoeing, pull the seeds, planting, fencing, mowing of rice, threshing (drying)
of rice, take rice, aerate of race, pounding rice with a pestle, taking out the
trash, unwind, deliver food. And, the last is called Pasambahan, it is as
gratitude to Allah SWT and an apology to the audience who watched the dance,
then “Singanjua Lalai” movement is symbolizes as Minang girls who are walking
beautiful in the morning, other movements look like cooperation (“gotong
royong”) and combination with treading shards of glasses.
The steps of plate dance begins from preparing such as do
exercise and preparing good and no cracked plates. Then, when the dancer get
ready to show their performance to audiences usually starts with amazed musical
traditional instruments using “rebana” (like tambourine were the initial
musical instruments) and gong or “talempong” and “Saluang” (like flute). The
first movements from dancers is “Pasambahan” to offering and respect for
audience, then grow rice movements until harvest movements. Then, continue with
amazing performances, dance and jump on shards of glasses. While dancing, the
dancers swing and give sound “ting..ting...ting...” from ring and plates. Then,
they end the dance with “Pasambahan” again
as expression of gratitude to Allah SWT and say thanks to audiences.
The essence of the plate dance gives positive messages such as
happiness, unity, mutual assistance, welfare and prosperity. That's so amazing
and so beautiful if we watch it directly. We feel amazed specially when dancers
dance and jump on shards of glasses. This is more important assets from
Minangkabau culture, West Sumatera province.
I write this article about the plate dance because I feel so
amazed and proud about my province culture, and when I attended my friend
wedding party, we are entertained with this dance. Then, I search more
information about history of the plate dance. This group dancer in this video
name is Gastarana, they have held performance for more country, the last is in
four big city in Pakistan as cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan.
You can watch this dance on this URL. Please click it directly
you will watch amazing the plate dance. klick here to see the video.
I am proud with my culture.
by MEYF ^_^
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