goodmorningpapua.com – Not only has the wealth of nature and animals, the land of Papua also has a variety of cultures originating from existing tribes, including the traditional dances.
Quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, here are 10 Papuan Dances and their regional origins:
1. Balengan Dance
Balengan dance is a social dance of the coastal community of Nabire Papua. The dance, which is also known as Ande Saira, is a creation dance of the traditional type of dance, namely a customary dance.
At the beginning, Ande Saira was a dance for certain purposes and was performed during other traditional rituals, for example at a haircut party, or ear piercing, but nowadays the Ande Saira/balengan dance is also often performed to establish intimate relationships among young people, because of that the Balengan dance is called the social dance.
2. Pangkur Sago Dance
Pangkur sago dance is a Papuan dance telling about the livelihoods of the Papuan people by making sago starting from cutting trees, squeezing water, to processing sago.
In making sago, Papuan people often hold party rituals in the form of singing and dancing.
For the Papuan people, the pangkur sago dance is a symbol of mutual cooperation, togetherness and gratitude to God.
3. Tumbu Tanah Dance
The Growing Land Dance is known to almost all tribal groups scattered in the Bird’s Head area of the great land of Papua with various variants of dance moves, songs and different accessories.
This dance also has a designation according to each ethnic group. For example, the people around the Sorong area such as the Maybrat people, the Tehit people, the Moi people, and the IMEKO tribal group call it the Srar dance, while the Arfak people call it the Tumbu Tanah dance.
4. Seka Dance
Seka Dance is one of the traditional dances of the people in Southern Papua including the Timika, Kaimana and Fakfak regions.
This dance which symbolizes gratitude to the Creator is present to dye the lives of coastal communities.
5. Nasimar Dance
This Papuan dance comes from Sarmi Regency, Papua Province. Nasimar dance is a war dance that is often performed.
Nasimar dance is often performed during events, Ondoafi’s inauguration, welcoming events with other activities related to this dance.
6. Yospan Dance (Yosim Pancar)
The next Papuan dance is the Yospan dance which is one of the most recognized dances in Indonesia. This dance began to be known in general in Papua around the 1980s.
Yosim Pancar dance is inseparable from the history of the two types of dance which will be explained as follows:
(1) Yosim Dance. In general, in a historical perspective, Yosim Dance comes from 2 regions or areas, namely the Sarmi area and the Biak area.
Yosim dance originating from Sarmi is a kind of happy dance usually done by the people there in happy/fun events/events.
(2) Pancar Dance. Based on its history, the Pancar dance originates from Biak, which is a dance created because of the acculturation factor between the indigenous culture of Biak and the culture from outside Biak which originated from the cultural contact of the Biak people with the outside world.
7. Dance Suanggi/Soanggi
The Papuan Suanggi dance originates from the Waropen area on the coast of Cendrawasih Bay. This dance is performed by dozens of male dancers. This dance depicts a war between residents who are armed with bows and arrows with a suanggi.
8. Mansusu Dance
This dance originates from the island of Numfor, near the island of Biak, performed by dozens of male dancers. Mansusu describes the people of Numfor riding their boats as their effort to repel the enemy who will attack.
9. Bayaitu Dance
Bayaitu dance comes from the Kuri area in Manokwari, performed by dozens of male and female dancers. Bayaitu is the name of a bird.
This dance depicts male and female birds of Bayaitu playing around, jumping here and there, while dancing.
10. Cendrawasih Dance
Cendrawasih dance comes from the areas of Biak, Waropen and Wandamen, and is performed by dozens of male and female dancers.
The dancers wear tassels to cover the lower body, and wear chest and head decorations in the form of bird of paradise feathers.
That are 10 Papuan dances and their origins . So you, mornigkers, know more about the variety of dances in Indonesia, aren’t you?