Saman dance is a dance that is now used as a dance area of Aceh province (NAD). Below we submit a brief description of the saman dance and the origin of the region. But we need to say again that in the previous post we also have discussed one of the traditional art in an article titled The History of the Origin Short Course.
Saman dance began to be known by aceh society after the entry and development of Islamic teachings in the area. No wonder if some of the dance properties used are the acculturation of middle eastern culture. At the beginning of the emergence of a dance that put together the cohesiveness between the dancers was introduced by Syech Saman, a prominent cleric and prominent figure in the highlands of Gayo Nangroe Aceh Darussalam.
At first this dance function is used as one of the da'wah media in order to attract the attention of local people to learn the teachings of Islam. No wonder if its existence at that time only shown at religious events.
Where did saman dance come from?
From the description above we can know that this dance was first performed in Gayo area. According to wikipedia High Tattoo Gayo is one of the areas in the Bukit Barisan Sumatra region that includes Central Aceh District, Bener Meriah, and Gayo Lues. From Gayo Lues district this is the origin of saman dance area.
As a medium of preaching before staging saman dance first a cleric appears to provide advice and advice for dancers and local communities who also witnessed the dance.
This communication between a scholar and the local community, especially those who watched saman dance can be delivered well.
Slow but surely saman dance art began to be well known among the Gayo community and on various occasions this dance is performed outside the Gayo area. With the introduction of saman dance to the outside community of dance art taught by Syeh Saman is then known also throughout the region of Aceh.