Saman

The Saman dance is one of the cultural traditions of the Gayo tribal group in the Aceh region in Sumatra, Indonesia. According to some sources, the Saman dance was developed by Ulaman Syekh Saman of Gayo. In the spread of Islam, Sheikh Saman learned the dances from the old Malay. Sheikh Saman then made the dance movement accompanied by poetry a part of spreading the Islamic message. 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 during this period. However, in the course of development, this 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 that are so amazingly in sync. In sync movements, 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 arguably extraordinary. In contrast to other types of dance, which typically consist of free movement, the Saman dance is performed in a sitting, tidy, and lined 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, thighs, legs, and the ground, click their fingers, and move their bodies and heads in time with the shifting rhythm. This is performed in unison or alternately 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 the high standard of behavior, the high standard of teachings, the sense of group loyalty, and the sense of religious devotion, which are shared by the people of Aceh. The Islamic messages embedded in each song's poetry are also important. Performances of Saman and their transmission, however, have been decreasing in recent years. Today, many leaders who had knowledge of the 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.

References

[1] [2] [3]