8 Sacred Traditional Dance from Central Kalimantan

Have you ever heard about traditional dance from Central Kalimantan? Central Kalimantan contains much culture that looks similar to traditional food in Kalimantan, traditional dance, music, instruments, and other things. As part of Kalimantan Island, Central Kalimantan also living by the Dayak tribe.

That is why some of their dance has almost similar traditional of Dayak East Kalimantan as well. Locals believe that most traditional dances from Central Kalimantan are influenced by the Dayak tribe. Not surprisingly, they have a hieratic sense inside. Not only come from the movement but also the dancers, which looks similar to the traditional dance of Banten.

If you are wondering what kind of traditional dance from Central Kalimantan that could hypnotize you, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!

1. Giring Giring dance

Giring Giring dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that originally came from the Dayak Manyaan tribe. This kind of dance represents happiness, which is why it is always performed during the celebration.

Giring Giring dance uses bamboo as the main property which is different from traditional dance from Central Java. The movement of the left hand following the rhythm becomes the most iconic movement during the dance.

2. Kinyah Mandau dance

Kinyah Mandau dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that uses Mandau as the main property during the dance. Mandau is one of the traditional weapons of Central Kalimantan, which shows men’s power.

Different from some traditional dance from Gorontalo, the dance in Central Kalimantan that is shown in Kinyah Mandu dance represent the fight and struggle. Locals believe that these fights and struggles should be done by men so that the dancers play by men.

3. Kayau dance

Kayau dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that represent the story of the Kayau War. The dance originally came from the Dayak Iban tribe, inspired by the Kayau War many decades ago. Similar to the Kinyah Mandau dance, the Kayau dance also uses the Mandau as the main property to dance.

The movement of the Mandau represents the way fishermen waved their tools into the ocean. Kayau dance is a popular dance in Central Kalimantan, which represent brave to conquer with the purpose of protecting villagers in the Dayak Iban tribe.

4. Manasai dance

Manasai dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that often perform at official events. This kind of dance functions for the welcoming guest which is why always perform an official event.

Manasai dance contains a couple of dancers men and women that move crossed each other. The couple would bring a different movement by crossing each other lines. They will move from a slow movement to the faster one following the beat of the music.

5. Dadas dance

Dadas dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that contain a spiritual sense. This kind of dance is pretty popular with the sacred value inside as it performs to worshipping the god. Dadas dance leads by a local shaman that has Dayak blood.

Commonly, the dancers are popular women shamans from the village that would be wearing specific bangles. Dadas dance used to perform for a specific purpose, such as healing through the ritual of Ranying Hatalla Langit, offerings to the holiest god, wealthy rituals, and many more.

6. Wadian Amun Rahu dance

Wadian Amun Rahu dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that has a sacred value inside. Not only bring a hieratic sense from every movement of the dance, but it also has a sacred process behind it. Wadian Amun Rahu dance should be danced by women only as part of the custom cultural ceremony of the Dayak tribe in Central Kalimantan.

The dance is performed for the specific ritual to say gratefulness toward the god led by Wadian. Locals believe that Wadian is a chosen shaman from the village that becomes an expert in healing, summoning sacred rituals, and the chief of custom culture ceremonies.

7. Manggetem dance

Manggetem dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that commonly perform for welcoming guests or strangers. On some specific occasions, there will be strangers from another region that come to the village. During that time, locals will welcome these strangers as a guest.

That is why the chief will summon some dancers to welcome the guest using the Manggetem dance. The performance usually happens at an official government event. Manggetem dance used only the usual dance performed by villagers to celebrate successful farming. The happiness after the successful farming brings joy to the villagers that spreads among the stranger that come into the village.

8. Potong Pantan dance

Potong Pantan dance is one of the traditional dances from Central Kalimantan that originally came from the Dayak Ngaju tribe. This kind of dance is a special welcoming guest dance that uses the celebration of cutting the Pantan. Potong Pantan dance is a part of the welcoming guest ceremony in Kapuas Regency.

Villagers will kindly welcome the guest with a big celebration followed by the performing of the Potong Pantan dance by women dancers. Are you ready to watch one of those dance performances? Let’s make a plan to visit Central Kalimantan this summer holiday.