The meaning behind the barong dance

Indeed the island to save a myriad of unique art, culture and traditions are still adhered to and implemented to date. Not only to maintain their cultural roots, but also as an entertainer travelers who traveled to the island of Bali. Many attractions including dance art that has a positive purpose and philosophy behind the dynamism of motion. One of them is the Barong Dance. Dances derived from pre-Hindu culture treasures illustrate the struggle between good and evil.

In the Barong Dance, Barong virtues represented in the play, in which a dancer with a four-legged animal costumes. While sleaze played by Rangda, a creepy figure with fangs in his mouth. Both fight while dancing to the music of traditional Bali.

Barong figures in these dances is quite central. The costumes were interesting because it comes with a variety of festive trinkets. Barong itself is described as being a combination lions, tigers and bulls. In barong body decorated with ornaments of leather, pieces of mirror glass and equipped with feathers made from pandanus fiber. Prominent barong also played by two dancers at a time.

In addition to playing pre-Hindu stories, there are also several other supporting characters like the monkey who is a friend of Barong, Dewi Kunti, Sahadev and followers of Rangda. Although dance is about the struggle between evil and evil, this dance contains elements of comedy are inserted in the middle of the show. This was reflected in some movements of the Barong and apes that invites laughter.

Barong Dance is still an element of Balinese culture is very strong especially at the things mystical. In making barong costumes, materials derived from wood are considered sacred. Besides the sidelines of the dance is also interspersed Keris Dance scene often shown like a dagger menusukan Debus performances of Banten. It is therefore not only a cultural dance, Barong dance is also very sacred by the Balinese.

Like the arts and cultural heritage of Indonesia, behind the uniqueness and beauty barong dance has meaning and profound virtue. The message that evil will always triumph against evil reflected clearly through victory Barong against Rangda. It is also in line with the values ​​inherited by their ancestors and predecessors nation.

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Renggong horse, dancing horse when Ronggeng

Maybe we are familiar from abroad watch the circus that uses animals as the main star. But you know in Indonesia action "circus" is the traditional use of animals there are already more than 100 years ago?. Precisely in the city of Sumedang, West Java, we can see the horse - a horse trained to dance and even martial arts compete with traditional musical accompaniment like a circus show. The show was known for its arts Renggong horse.

Art is already known since the 1880's in the village Cikurubuk, Fruit District Two, District Sumedang. Formerly known as the art is a means Igel horse horse dancing, but now art is better known as a horse Renggong. The word Renggong a metathesis from the word "dancer" is kamonesan or dancing skills to the music.

The history of art is inseparable from character named Sipan are trying to train his horses, named the Cengek and the Dengkek to follow the movement wants. After a few months of training he managed to train the horse to be able to "dance" accompanied by music.

Its success was later discovered by Prince Aria Atmadja Surya, who was serving as regent Sumedang. The Regents then ordered Sipan to train horses imported directly from the island of Sumbawa. From there then art is increasingly recognized and developed not only in Sumedang, but then developed also in the surrounding area.

Art is usually played at the circumcision of children. Children who have to wear makeup or wear traditional Sundanese wayang placed to the horse Renggong which is also decorated with various accessories colors - iridescent. Then, to the accompaniment of horses Renggong tetabuhan sunda troupe perform procession around the village.

In the group in addition to the horse and rider is usually composed of the trigger (group leader), some players waditra (tetabuhan), singers, some of fighter and enlivened also by members of the community who come to dance together. In the procession, usually the fighter in action with horses Renggong presents an attractive movements such as the movement of "fight" between horse with fighters.

In the development of not only horses Renggong circumcisions performed in the show, now the arts that has become typical of Sumedang is also commonly performed in a grand welcoming ceremony guests, Independence Day parades and other events.

To preserve this art Sumedang local festival held annually Renggong horse. Renggong horse festival was attended by dozens of arts groups from all corners of Sumedang even from outside Sumedang. With the implementation of this festival is expected to increase the quality of Renggong horse show, both in terms of creative dance moves, waditra, accessories used, compactness and so on so that art has become one of the tourist icons of West Java is increasingly growing.

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Weapons of chopsticks Dayak Hunt at a Time of War

Chopsticks are one of the weapons used by the Dayak. In addition to hunting, chopsticks into a tool of war. Terms of use chopsticks or sipet has its own advantages as it can be used as a long-range weapon and not destroy nature because natural ingredients making. And one of the advantages of chopsticks or sipet has shot accuracy can reach 218 yards or about 200 meters.

Judging from the shape of chopsticks, chopsticks have a spherical shape and has a length of between 1.5 to 2 meters, about 2-3 inches in diameter. At the end of the chopsticks are processed shoot targets such as small shells like a diamond the size of 3-5 inches. At the center of the hole in the place masuknyadamek chopsticks (chopsticks kids). At the top of the chopsticks rather shoot targets on the front mounted a spear or sangkoh (in Dayak). Sangkoh stone mountain and tied with woven uei (rattan).

Type of wood commonly used to make wooden chopsticks are generally looking, ironwood or tabalien, plepek wood, and wood resak. Not to forget also Tamiang or lamiang, a type of bamboo that is small, segmented long, hard, and contain toxins. Not everyone has the expertise in making chopsticks or sipet. On the island of Borneo alone only a few tribes who have expertise in the manufacture of chopsticks, the Ot Danum Dayak tribe, Punan, Apu Kayan, Bahau, Spot, and Dayak tribes Sand.

In the process of making chopsticks or sipet done in two ways, first hand skill of the maker. The second way, is to use the power of nature by harnessing the power of the water flow cascade is made into a kind of grinding mill rice. The selling price of chopsticks or sipet determined by customary law, that is equal to or due halamaung Jipen ije taheta.
According to the beliefs or sipet chopsticks Dayak tribe should not be used to kill people. Chopsticks or sipet only be used for daily use, such as hunting. Sipet or abstinence is not allowed to be trampled let alone cut with a machete because if it is done in contravention of customary law, which could lead to the perpetrators will be prosecuted in a traditional meeting.

In colonial times of yore in Borneo, Dutch soldiers armed with rifles with cutting-edge technology of the day, while the Dayak warriors generally rely chopsticks. However, the Dutch soldiers were far more than the fear of children chopsticks Dayak warriors hit by bullets. That makes undaunted the colonists was poisoned child chopsticks. Before leaving to the battlefield, soldiers Dayak smearing eyes chopsticks with wormwood tree or tree sap iren. In silence, they shot an action called damek chopsticks.

Without knowing where his opponent, suddenly one Dutch soldier collapsed, making the rest of his colleagues who are still alive scuttled. Even if had responded with gunfire, the impact of hot lead was far disproportionate to the enormity of the children chopsticks toxic.

Less than five minutes after the child chopsticks stuck on any body part, the Dutch soldiers were initially seizure-awning will die. In fact, it could be in a matter of seconds they were lifeless. Meanwhile, if the Dayak soldiers shot and not the important part, live bullets removed. Having cared for a few weeks, they were ready to fight back. Country boy Dayak struggle against the Dutch colonialists apparently no less heroic fighter who allegedly used the stakes to memerdekan country Indonesia. Chopsticks become one of the typical weapon that can be part of history is not forgotten. So this time, skill menyumpit become a popular sport in the Kalimantan region.

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