Dance Jentreng Terawangsa

Jentreng Terawangsa dance played by a male dancer, and some female dancers. Everything was old, at least half a century. They were chosen, because it is considered more flexible, and especially, more wisely. As in their daily lives, male dancers dressed in black shucks and headband, while the female dancers in black berkebaya. The impression is shown, far from a dance performance commonly found.

No twinkling sequins on costumes or decorations. No makeup , as a dancer at the time of the gig. Makeup that separates them from everyday life, just a bun in the head. Itupun without hair ornaments, such as rocking or flower blossoms alive.

Initiate play, the first player to pray, and perform the ceremony. Means giving offerings to the ancestors. After that, male dancers called Saehu, pray. The sidelines of the prayers, Saehu dancing. This is the moment where he opened a real natural with the supernatural. Although impressed very simple and monotonous, for a middle-aged dancer, her movements seem very tiring. While dancing, repeatedly Saehu sungkem to come and elders. Its purpose is to strengthen Hospitality, and expressed his gratitude for having given permission and opportunity to dance.

While Saehu praying and dancing, the dancers swinging women scarves. Like Saehu movement, women's movement of the dancers are also very monotonous, and as if without meaning. However, there is the goal, namely to increase the strength Saehu. That said, some of them stole, not just any scarf. These scarves are hereditary, and rarely used. Sacred scarves are given to Saehu, to be requested prayer from the elders.

Musical instruments that accompany jentreng terawangsa, only two kinds. Ie seven berdawai lute, and berdawai second fiddle. Seven strings symbolizing the seven days a week, or seven-layered sky. While two strings, reflecting everything that always has two sides, such as male-female, top-down, glory-shit, and so on. As well as dance, music that is played seem monotonous. Nevertheless, society has Sumedang Disallow explanation for this. Namely that the music is not heard by the ears, but with heart.

After the opening dance Saehu not seem finished, then the female dancers get up and dance. Just as Saehu, women's movement of the dancers is also impressed very monotonous, but exhausting. Throughout the play, no one can see the audience dancing. Not seem a smile tugging at his lips, or cast to the audience. This may be what distinguishes art jentreng terawangsa, from the art of dance commonly found. That dance is not aimed at entertaining, but a means to wander to the one.

After the gig went more than an hour, then came the core of jentreng terawangsa. Some women dancers began to look possessed. Some of them even seen crying. This is the moment they believe, where the spirits of their ancestors entered the body, and guiding them to dance. They believe, at that time, they are no longer dancing, but the ancestors. It may be that this is the time where they unite with the one. The same thing could happen in the audience, who asked to dance. It is said that, if not or could not dance before, someone could suddenly very fun to dance with.

Until the middle of the night, the show which started at eight o'clock that evening, filled only appearance of the dancers and the audience of women. This also has the meaning itself. Disallow Sumedang community have confidence, women can only receive the aura until midnight. As for men, because the aura is stronger, just started dancing after midnight until dawn ahead. Therefore, in the performance of this dance, women and men are separated.

In the middle of the gig, Sumedang Disallow elders, who usually called Aki Nana, giving the discourse. That said, the discourse is given in trance ancestors. Because discourse is given in Indonesian, which he did not actually mastered.

Disallow Sumedang society is a mirror of how a community is respect for ancestors. An attitude that, among others embodied in the preservation of endangered art, or even been lost.

By

Vmeant