Examples of Paired Dances – In dance works and their performances, Sinaumed’s will often find dances performed by a dancer or known as a single dancer and some in groups or can be called the embodiment of the meaning of pair dance.
Simply put, pair dance is dance that is performed not alone and is played by two people in pairs. Even so, group or mass dances danced by many people can also be said to be pair dances.
The movements between the two dancers in the pair dance must complement each other, interact and fill each other, so that there is a response or agreement in good movement. In Indonesian traditional dance, there are several groups of pair dances, namely sons and daughters, subtle daughters, agile daughters, subtle sons and dashing sons. In order to better understand the pair dance further, here is an example of a pair dance.
Example of Pair Dance
1. Twelve Haphazard Dance
Serampang Dua Belas dance is a traditional dance originating from North Sumatra. This dance is a classical dance from Malay created by Guru Sauti. This dance describes the love story of two human children, which starts from the process of acquaintance to the end of marriage.
This pair dance has a moral message in the form, if you already have a suitable partner, then you should not procrastinate and go straight to the altar.
Before being known as the Serampang Dua Belas dance, this dance was previously named Pulau Sari according to the song that accompanies this song, namely Pulau Sari. However, the name Pulau Sari is not suitable, because dances that have the name Pulau usually have a fast tempo or rumba.
Meanwhile, the name Dua Belas means the dance that has the fastest movement among the songs entitled Serampang. Another reason for changing the name to Serampang Dua Belas is because it refers to the variety of movements used as many as 12 movements.
The Serampang Dua Belas dance is a classical dance that is quite legendary and influences traditional dances from other regions.
This dance has been popular since the 1930s and emerged to shift western influences and foster an attitude of nationalism through culture.
Since its inception, the Serampang Dua Belas dance has been able to unify the nation as well as a medium for entertainment and social interaction. On the other hand, the Serampang Dua Belas dance also sparked controversy because it took the musical rhythm of the Portuguese Branyo.
This dance is rooted in the Malay Ronggeng dance with three opening songs namely Serampang Laut, Gunung Sayang and Pulau Sari. The song that accompanies the Serampang Dua Belas dance was reworked by OK Adram by taking several elements of dance and music from the archipelago.
The results of this work later became the Serampang Dua Belas dance and then developed in the Deli Serdang Berdagai Sultanate, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.
At that time, this dance could only be performed by male dancers, because there were customary rules that did not allow female dancers to appear in public.
Then, Sauti’s teacher changed this dance so that it could be accepted by all ethnic groups at all social levels in Indonesia and the Serampang Dua Belas dance was finally in demand by the wider community at that time because it had movements that were not too difficult.
2. Zapin Dance
The Zapin dance is the second example of pair dance. This dance is a traditional dance originating from Riau Province and has educational and entertaining properties.
According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), zapin is a typical Malay dance accompanied by songs originating from Yemen. According to the book Encyclopedia of Archipelago arts and culture by Gendhis Paradisa, the Zapin dance was previously used as a medium for preaching Islam with the lyrics of the Zapin song being sung.
As a pair dance, the Zapin dance is danced in groups with musical accompaniment consisting of two main musical instruments, namely a small drum called a marwas and a lute.
The word zapin comes from the Arabic word zafin which means fast foot movement following a series of strokes. For this reason, this dance is considered a form of acculturation of Arab culture and Malay culture in the past.
According to the official website of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemdikbud) the Zapin dance is a pair dance which is performed at various kinds of folk entertainment events.
At first, the Zapin dance from the Malay tribe was brought from Arabia and Yemen and originated from a special dance at court circles in the Yemeni Sultanate of the Middle East in the past.
During the transcontinental trading period, namely around the 16th century, Arab brothers brought this dance and introduced it to the people around the Malacca Strait.
The dance then undergoes a process of acculturation of local culture by inserting Malay tribal values and norms in every movement. After experiencing the acculturation process, every Zapin dance movement contains a philosophical value related to the lifestyle of the Riau Malay community.
At the beginning of its appearance, the Zapin dance could only be danced by men. Then in the 1960s until now this dance has been danced by women and can even be danced mixed.
3. Bedhaya Dance
The Bedhaya Ketawang dance is a sacred dance from the Surakarta Hadiningrat Kasunanan Palace or the Solo Palace. This dance is a dance of greatness that can only be performed at the coronation or at the commemoration of the king’s ascension.
The name Bedhaya Ketawang comes from the word bedhaya which means a female dancer in the palace and ketawang which means the sky or overcast sky. Meanwhile, the word ketawang symbolizes something that is holy, high and the abode of the gods.
This pair of traditional dances is full of meaning and has a close relationship with traditional ceremonies, religion, the king’s love affair with Kanjeng Ratu Kidul and the sacred. The story presented in the Bedhaya Ketawang dance is a Javanese folktale originating from the love story of Panembahan Senopati and Kanjeng Ratu Kidul.
This dance has a composition with a number of dancers of seven to nine female dancers dressed in the same costume as the theme of the story that has been created without dialogue.
The dancers are symbolized by the position of the scorpion star and are nine in number. The dancers will dress like a Javanese bride with dhodot and sampan with the names of the dancers and their meanings as follows:
- Batak: Mind and soul
- Gulu: Body
- Distended: Sexual organs
- Apit mburi: Left arm
- Apir ngarep: Right arm
- Apit meaning: Left leg
- Endhel ajeg: Desire or lust
- Endhel weton: Right leg
- Dhada: Body
This dance is not just a traditional dance, because it had become one of the religious activities for the nobility in Java. This is related to the background of the Bedhaya dance, the composition of which is influenced by the old Javanese mindset with its psychological nature and in fact manifested in the nine dancers of the Bedhaya dance. In addition, this dance also has a relationship with the existence of nine shakti forms in Hindu teachings.
4. Umbrella Dance
Payung dance or Payuang dance is a traditional dance typical of Minangkabau. This pair dance originates from West Sumatra and was popular in the 1960s. As the name implies, this dance is performed using an umbrella as the main property and is danced by an even number of dancers.
This traditional dance is a performing dance that has the aim of being a medium of entertainment only. Therefore, the Umbrella dance is usually performed as an opening act at exhibitions, festivals and other important events.
So far, there is no clear historical record of the Payung dance. However, in its development, the Payung dance is closely related to drama and was often performed during the colonial period.
Apart from showing an interesting storyline, the drama in the Payung dance is also complemented by jokes in the dance. The Payung Dance is used as a distraction and complement to drama and storytelling in performances.
When it first appeared, the Payung dance actually did not have standard rules regarding its choreography. However, from 1904 to 1920, Rasyid Manggis did choreography for this dance.
The struggle of Rasyid Manggis was then continued by Siti Agam who eventually developed the Payung dance into a choreographic art with the theme of youth association.
The stories in the Payung dance are usually adapted to the lives of city teenagers who go on holiday to the Tanang River in Bukittinggi.
5. Wireng Dance
The next example of paired dance is a traditional dance originating from Central Java, or to be precise, from the Surakarta Sunanate or the city of Solo. the Beksan Wireng dance is a pair dance that has a historical background in the Sinom pupuh 15-20 in the Javanese cultural book Serat Centhini.
This dance comes from the word beksan which means dance and the word wiring which comes from the combination of the words wira or officer and aeng which means superior soldier so, the Beksan Wireng dance can be interpreted as a dance of superior officers and soldiers.
As explained, that this Wireng dance is in Sinom’s pupuh which tells about the birth of six Wireng dances created in the Jenggala era of Kediri. This dance was created by Lembu Amiluhur or known as the First King of Jenggala with the title Jayanegara.
Jayanegara created the Beksan Wireng dance to teach his son about dexterity when fighting. Jayanegara’s son then ascended the throne and succeeded his father, he then had the title Prabu Suryawisesa.
The creation of the Beksan Wireng dance is also closely related to the founding of the Mangkunegaran Duchy after being separated from the Mataram succession.
6. Karonsih Dance
Karonsih dance is a pair dance that tells about the love and longing felt by Dewi Sekartaji who was left by her husband, Panji Asmara Bangun.
The term karonsih comes from the Javanese language, namely kekaron or sacloron tansah asih, which means both of them love each other. It is said that Panji Asmara Bangun had to leave the palace disguised as an ordinary person.
So that he can know the condition of all the people of the Kingdom of Kediri and the sincerity of love from Dewi Sekartaji. Panji Asmara Bangun’s departure without saying goodbye succeeded in making Dewi Sekartaji confused. He also felt the loss of his soul mate.
The Karonsih dance is usually performed at traditional Javanese wedding ceremonies. After the traditional ceremony with the extended family, the bride and groom along with their parents and pager ayu will be accompanied by the cucuk lampah dancer to go down the aisle.
However, there are also those that feature a male dancer as a character from Panji Asmara Bangun to accompany the bride and groom as a cucuk lampah dancer.
7. Gambyong Dance
Gambyong dance is a dance originating from Surakarta, Central Java. Usually this dance is staged to welcome guests or as a medium of entertainment. Gambyong dance is a traditional dance that has a variety of choreography, such as the Gambyong Pareanom dance and the Gambyong Pangkur dance.
Even though it has many variations, the Gambyong dance has the same basic movement, namely the tledhek or tayub movement.
The Gambyong dance was actually created for a single dancer, but in its development the Gambyong dance is currently being danced by several dancers and even in bulk, by involving several blocking elements on the stage.
The Gambyong dance is mentioned in the Centhini fiber written during the reign of Pakubuwana IV and Pakubuwana V. In the fiber, it is stated that the Gambyong dance is a tledhek dance.
Then, KRMT Wreksadiningrat as a dance director during the reign of Pakubuwana IX worked on this folk dance so that it could be performed for aristocrats and aristocrats. So as a result, the Gambyong dance became more refined and popular.
Nyi Bei Mardusari, an artist and also a concubine from Sri Mangkunegaran, said that at that time, the Gambyong dance had been performed in front of guests in the Mangkunegaran Palace environment.
A big change then occurred in 1950, Nyi Bei Mintoraras, a dance trainer at the Mangkunegaran Palace during the time of Mangkunegaran VIII, made a standardized version of the Gambyong dance and was known as Gambyong Pareanom.
The choreography of the first performance of the Gambyong Pareanom dance was at the wedding of Gusti Nurul, the sister of Mangkunegoro VIII, in 1951. Then this dance was liked by the public, until finally another version emerged.
8. Remo Dance
Remo dance is one of the arts originating from East Java. This traditional dance is a dance that is used to welcome guests and is performed individually or in large groups.
The history of the emergence of the Remo dance in East Java is closely related to the development of Ludruk art in that region. In the past, the Remo dance functioned as the opening act at every ludruk event. Therefore, the Remo dance is also often known as the Ludruk dance.
Remo dance appeared in the 1920s and had a religious nature at the beginning of its development. However, this dance then underwent a shift in function and became a means of entertainment for the community.
Uniquely, because it is the opening dance for Ludruk, the Remo dance is usually performed at night around 21.00 and lasts for one full night. Traditional dances also use musical accompaniment in the form of a slendro gamelan orchestra with gending and songs in the Madurese language.
Those are some examples of typical pair dances from the archipelago. For Sinaumed’s who are interested in learning examples of other pair dances or learning more about dance arts, such as Remo dance, Gambyong dance and others, Sinaumed’s can dig up the information by reading books.
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