Saman dance is one of the cultural traditions of the Gayo tribal group in the Aceh region of Sumatra, Indonesia. According to some sources, Saman dance was developed by Ulaman Syekh Saman of Gayo. During the spread of Islam, Sheikh Saman learned the dances from old Malay and then created a dance movement accompanied by poetry to spread the message of Islam.
There is a decree in the Sultanate region of Aceh that stipulates Saman dance can only be performed on the celebration of the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad in the mosque area near Gayo. However, during the course of its development, Saman dance is also performed on official occasions, such as the exchange of guests between the district and state, the opening of festivals, and other events in the region.
The uniqueness of Saman dance lies in its motions as body parts move in synchronization with the music, following the tempo of the songs. Any viewer will be fascinated by the dancers' cohesiveness, which is extraordinary. By contrast to other types of dance, which typically consist of free movement, the Saman dance is performed in a sitting, tidy, and linear manner. Due to the rhythmic nature of its movements, this dance was traditionally performed primarily by men. In modern times, however, women, as well as mixed groups of male and female dancers, are permitted to participate.
Every dancer wears a black costume embroidered with colorful Gayo motifs that symbolize nature and noble values. Dance leaders sit down in the middle of the row and lead the singing of verses, which are mostly in the Gayo language. These verses are used for guidance and can be religious, romantic, or humorous in nature. The dancers clap their hands, slap their chests, their thighs, legs, and the ground. They also click their fingers, and move their bodies and heads in time with the shifting rhythm. This is either performed in unison or together with the moves of opposing dancers. Symbolically, these movements represent the Gayo people and their natural environment.
Saman dance has a symbolic and profound meaning for the people of Aceh. There are many meanings associated with this dance, including a high standard of behavior, a high standard of teaching, a sense of group loyalty, and a sense of religious devotion. The Islamic messages embedded in each song's poetry are also important.
Performances of Saman and their transmission have been declining in recent years. Today, many leaders who had knowledge of Saman are either elderly or without a successor. Formal transmission has been replaced by informal transmission, and many young people are emigrating to pursue higher education. Funds are also a problem, as costumes and performances involve considerable expense.
The Saman competition is one of the ways to preserve and continue the Gayo culture, and offers a prize for the winner. Competitions can provide a new creativity in performing Saman, and they can help show the value of the Gayo traditions through new improvements and creativity.