Candle dance is one of the traditional Indonesian dances originating from the Minangkabau area, West Sumatra. This dance at the time of the performance will wear a small wax property that will be brought by the dancers.
This candle dance will generally be performed by a group of dancers with attractive movements and also in rhythm with the accompanying music.
In this article, I will share a little information about the candle dance originating from Minangkabau, West Sumatra for all of you.
Curious, right? Let’s just go straight into the main discussion, starting with understanding and then history first, because it feels incomplete to learn something not from an explanation and then its origins.
Definition of Candle Dance
Candle Dance is one of the traditional dances from West Sumatra. As the name suggests, this dance can be played by dancers wearing a small plate with a burning candle on it as the main attribute of dancing.
This candle dance can be played by a group of dancers with attractive movements and in rhythm with the accompanying music.
This dance is one of the famous dances in Indonesia and has become one of the icons of traditional dances in West Sumatra, especially in the Minangkabau community.
History of Candle Dance
Based on historical records circulating in the people of West Sumatra about the origins of this wax dance, it tells the story of a girl who has been left by her fiancé or lover in search of treasure. All this time her fiancé had left her, then this girl had lost the engagement ring she had given.
The girl then looked for the ring until late at night by using the lighting in the form of a candle placed on a small plate. From the results of graceful body movements, bowing and praying movements finally gave birth to a very beautiful dance movement similar to the uniqueness of this dance movement in Indonesia, namely the candle dance.
Candle Dance Function
This dance at the time of its performance is functioned as a dance to express gratitude to the gods when the harvest season comes with abundant results. The characteristic possessed by this dance is to wear a property in the form of a plate containing a small candle.
So, this candle dance is not performed at any time, but with the times, the function of this dance has changed. The function of the dance which was originally an expression of gratitude, has now turned into a type of entertainment dance for the Minangkabau community.
Candle Dance Show
At the time of this wax dance performance or performance, it will generally be performed by a group of female dancers. However, there are also types of candle dance performed by male and female dancers simultaneously.
In the performance, the dancers will dance while holding small plates and also lit candles placed in the palms of their hands. Then they will dance beautifully to the rhythm of the accompanying music.
Candle Dance Movement
In every movement that will be performed in this dance performance, the dancers will bring a candle that is placed on a small plate. Then the dancers will dance this dance in groups and also simultaneously rotate the plates carefully. This is done to keep the plate in balance and not fall so that the candle does not burn out or die.
The bending, twisting and praying movements of the dancers are the uniqueness of this dance. These various movements can finally produce a beautiful unity of movement from the candle dance.
This candle dance itself wears a straight floor pattern.
Candle Dance Accompaniment And Properties
Generally, the candle dance accompaniment in terms of this musical instrument uses an accordion, gong, guitar, violin, kenong, saxophone, bonang, drum and also tok-tok. This musical instrument has a close relationship with the candle dance, because the two cannot be separated from one another.
As for the properties worn in this candle dance, there are 2 kinds, namely candles and plates. The following is an explanation of the two properties.
1. Plate
The property of the plate here is used as an object that becomes a place to put the candle. In this traditional dance, the candle is not held directly. The plates worn in this dance tend to be small or medium in size so that the size is right when they are placed on the dancer’s right and left hands.
The dancers of this candle dance must hold the plate tightly so that the plate does not fall easily. Similar to the properties that exist in other traditional dances, this first wax dance property can be a bearer of the identity of the wax dance itself, and also become a characteristic.
2. Candles
The property of the wax used in this dance is a candle like most of the ones you can find in shops near your home. When the performance. The candle is in a lit state. Therefore, this dance is very suitable to be performed at night.
Surprisingly, this property of a burning candle will not go out as long as the dancers contort it on the plate.
Therefore, the dancers must be very good at maintaining their balance and must also carry out the dance carefully so that the plate they are holding does not fall and the candle does not go out.
They also don’t need to worry that their hands will be exposed to melted wax considering that the candle can be placed on a plate. The melted wax will eventually collect at the bottom of the plate.
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