Saman Dance of Acehnese

In general, Saman played by a dozen or a dozen men. but the numbers must be odd. However, in subsequent developments, this dance is also played by women. Another opinion says this dance is danced less than 10 people, with details of eight dancers and two people as cue givers while singing. However, developments in the modern era requires that a dance would be more lively when danced by dancers with higher numbers. This is where the role of the Sheikh, he must regulate the movement and singing the Saman verses.

Costume or special clothing saman is divided in three parts:

• On the head: bulung pupil or tengkuluk basic black fabric square. Two aspects such as dress embroidered with threads, edit kepies.
• On the body: basic clothing / clothes filigree (the basic black dress, embroidered in white thread, green and red, embroidered with the waist portion kedawek and kekait, short-handed shirt) and sarong pants.
• In the hands of: the mask bracelet, handkerchief. Similarly, in the use of color, according to tradition contains certain values, because the color indicates the identity of the wearer. The colors reflect the compactness, wisdom, strength, courage and harmony.

Saman dance was very interesting. Saman dance performances are not only popular in our own country, but also popular in foreign countries such as Australia and Europe. Recently saman dance at shows in Australia to commemorate the tsunami catastrophe on December 26, 2006. Therefore, we should be proud of the arts that we have, and preserve it so as not to become extinct.