Saman Dance

Saman dance is one of the most famous areas of Aceh today. This dance originated from the Central Highlands. In the past, Tari Saman is usually displayed to celebrate the event - a significant milestone in indigenous and people of Aceh. In addition, this dance is usually also displayed to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. In fact the name "Samantha" is obtained from one of the great scholars of Aceh, Syech Saman.

Saman dance is usually displayed using the accompaniment of musical instruments, a drum and use the sound of the dancers and their applause is usually combined with hitting the chest and groin, and flung them as synchronization body in different directions.

This dance is guided by a leader who is typically called Syech. Because of the uniformity of formation and punctuality is a must in these dances, the dancers are required to have a high concentration and a serious exercise in order to appear perfectly.

This dance is performed in groups, singing by sitting on his knees and berbanjar / bersaf without musical accompaniment.

Because of dynamic motion, this dance a lot dibawak / danced by men, but now the development of this dance has been danced by many female dancers as well as a mixture between male dancers and female dancers. This dance is danced about 10 people, with details of 8 dancers and 2 as cue givers while singing.
For dance lovers, Saman be one prima donna in the show. In every appearance, in addition to drawing attention also suck big dance lovers. Saman dance one dance that is quite unique, because it only shows the motion of clapping and other movements, such as body movement, head and body position. Another uniqueness visible from a seated position of the dancers and swaying bodies snapped to the left or right, when the verses sung in rhythm.

This dance is usually played by a dozen or dozens of men, but the numbers must be odd. However, in subsequent developments, this dance is played also by women or a mix between men and women. And of course with modifications to other motion. I am sometimes asked how many people can simultaneously play a dance that has a high speed? In addition to training of course, there's a certain formation in putting each dancer was so dense and balanced look harmonious and dynamic dance.

Almost all Acehnese dances performed a gang. This requires cooperation and mutual trust between the sheikh (leader in the dance) with the dancers. But what are the elements that make this dance so beautiful in motion, rhythm and cohesiveness is not much we know.

Now let's start peeling the supporting elements in this saman dance. Perhaps when we know all the aspects contained in this dance, we can better understand. And get not only beauty but also the philosophical meaning of position, movement, poetry performances terlantun when Saman in the title.

In a normal appearance (not match) in which the existence of time constraints, Saman could be played by 10-12 dancers, but at least supported the integrity Saman 15-17 dancers. Which has the following functions:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17



    * No. 9 is called Lifting

      Lifting is the main character (a type of sheikh in Seudati) central point in the Saman, which determines the motion of dance, dance level, that poetry and poets echoed in retaliation to attacks opponent's play (Saman Jalu / game)

    * No. 8 and 10 referred to clamp

      Auxiliary lifting clamps are good figures dance movement and singing / vocal

    * No. 2-7 and 11-16 is called pincers

      Pincers are regular dancers who support the dance or dance movement that is directed lifter. Aside from being a dancer also plays grip (squeeze). So the density between the dancers awake, so the dancers together without any of the positions banjo / bershaf (horizontal) to unity and simultaneity of motion.

    * No. 1 and 17 is called Penupang

      Penupang is the dancer's most right-left end of line dancers who sit berbanjar. Penupang besides supporting role as part of the dance also serves menupang / hold the integrity of the position of dance in order to remain tight and straight. So-called penamat kerpe penupang jejerun (holder jejerun grass). As if last strengthen the position with grass memgang jejerun (jejerun a kind of grass roots terhujam strong and deep, hard on the pull.


Saman dance danced in a sitting position. Included in this type of art ratoh duk (sitting dance). Whose birth is closely related to the entry and spread of Islam. Where the dancers sat kneeling position, depressed body weight to both feet. Saman dance patterns in space is also limited at the level, ie, the height position of the body. From a sitting position on his knees turned to a position above the knee (Gayo - berlembuku) which is the highest level, being the lowest level is one where the dancers body bent forward until 45o (tungkuk) or tilted backward ° to 60 ° (langat). Sometimes when the motion is accompanied tilt to the right or left, called novice. There are also exercise in a sitting position next pitch to right-or left-rear (lingang).

In addition to a sitting position and body movement, hand gestures are very dominant in saman dance. Because he serves as a motion once the music. It's called the second hand cerkop coincide and direction. There is also cilok, namely the index finger tip motion as if to take something lighter objects such as salt. And tepok performed in different positions (horizontal / back and forth / like a propeller). Head movements such as nodding in a slow tempo to fast (anguk) and head spinning like a propeller (Girek) is also a range of motion saman. Kesenyawaan all these elements that add beauty and harmony in motion dance saman.

Because dance saman played without musical instruments, then as a retinue in use hands and body. There are several ways to get these sounds:

   1. Clapping both hands. This is usually moderate to fast tempo

   2. Punch both hands to the chest. Usually upbeat

   3. Clapping of the palms to the chest. General tempo is

   4. Friction with the thumb-hand middle finger (kertip). General tempo is.


And the singing of the dancers add to the dynamics of saman dance. Where can I sing songs in saman dance is divided into 5 types:


   1. Rengum, the roar that begins by lifting.

   2. Tones, namely Regnum which was quickly followed by all dancers.

   3. Redet, which is a short song with a short sound sung by a dancer in the middle of the dance.

   4. Syek, the song sung by a dancer with a long high-pitched voice, usually as a sign of change in motion

   5. Saur, that is the song that is repeated by all the dancers after sung by a solo dancer.


In every show it was in sinergikan so aimlessly an amazing dance movement. So the power of the Saman is not only in his verse alone, but the motion of a compact be more value in the dance. This may be realized from the compliance of the dancers in their respective roles to play.

That bit about the function of formation, type of motion, provided musical accompaniment and singing in the Saman dance performances. May be useful for you in understanding the Saman dance.
Saman Dance Little History
This dance comes from the Gayo highlands soil. Created by a cleric named Sheikh Saman Aceh. At first, this dance is just an ordinary game called Pok Ane. Seeing the great interest in the arts to the people of Aceh so by Sheikh disisipilah with poems that contain Praise, praise to Allah SWT. So Saman became a media propaganda that time. Formerly Saman exercises done under the under the Meunasah (a type of mosque, at that time still building aceh building stage). So they will not miss to pray in congregation.
Along Aceh in war conditions, the sheikh added that manambah poets fighting spirit of the Acehnese. This dance continues to develop according to their needs. Until now this dance is more frequently in the show in celebration of religious and state affairs. This dance was originally received less attention because of the limitations of communication and information from the outside world. This dance began to shake the stage during his performance at the Cultural Week of Aceh (PKA) II and the inauguration of the opening of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). Saman rumble in TMII shocking not only the country but to foreign countries. I am a child of this country hope that can continue to reverberate Saman.