goodmorningpapua.com – From Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia’s wealth seems to never run out. It is from natural wealth to abundant human resources. The principle of Bhineka Tunggal Ika is a guideline and guide so that wealth and differences are well-developed and can be enjoyed jointly by the whole community.
One of the wealth possessed is dance with a variety of movements and types of dances with historical origins. Various traditional and modern dances are often performed in certain events, such as traditional wedding ceremonies, welcoming guests of honor, and so on. The dance can be performed singly, in pairs, in groups or colossal.
As quoted from the website of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, dance is an art form that has a medium of expression or substance of motion through human movement.
In another version, as adapted from the Big Indonesian Dictionary, the definition of dance is a flow of art about body movements (hands and others) that are rhythmic and usually accompanied by sounds (music, gamelan, and so on).
Dance is also known as a sign language, because the substance is movement as the basis for thinking that can be conveyed in every movement. However, the movements in question are not realistic or everyday movements, but these in the form of expressive movements.
Among the thousands of dances spread across Indonesia, there are those from Papua. The dance is Falabea or war dance is one of the various types of dances typical of Earth
By definition, the Papuan war dance is a kind of dance performed by male dancers in groups, usually performed by a minimum of 7 men. Papuan war dances are generally held in the field in the evening towards the evening.
War dance is used as one of the dances to welcome tourists who come to Papua. This dance has a deep meaning for the Papuan people.
This is caused by not only interpreted as a body movement but also a form of gratitude to the Creator. So that the Papuan people express their gratitude to God Almighty through choreography movements.
War dance is one of the charms of Indonesian culture which has a high tourist attraction. No wonder if the existence of a typical Papuan war dance attracts many tourists to visit Papua.
One of the war dance performances that can be witnessed by the wider community is the one displayed at the Baliem Valley Festival. This festival includes in the list of Calendar of Events which is held every year.
If you have the opportunity to visit Earth of Cendrawasih, have the time to see the Baliem Valley Festival, because it presents a variety of other Papuan cultural potentials ranging from the typical culinary to watch first hand Honai houses or traditional Papuan houses.