Bayan Api Dance 💃

   Bayan Api Dance from Rokan Hilir 💃

Bayan Api Dance is a Riau creation that tells of an area called Bagan Siapi-Api. Bagan Siapi-Api is part of the archipelago that is considered important, because the area close to the Malacca Strait has always been the center of international trade activities. Geographically, Bagan Siapi-Api is located at the mouth of the Rokan River, precisely on the northern coast of Rokan Hilir Regency. As a meeting place for people of various ethnicities, Bagan Siapi-Api has now become a pluralistic area with diverse ethnicities. However, this diversity can be maintained with mutual respect and respect for differences.

 The diversity of the Bagan Siapi-Api community inspired the birth of a creative dance called the bayan api dance. This creative dance that adopts the movements in the Rokan Hilir sapin dance combines several cultural elements in the area, namely Chinese, Javanese and Malay culture. The influence of these three cultures can be seen in the aesthetic elements that make up the dance creations, such as the music and clothing worn, as well as in the use of fire parrots symbolized by the dragon mask.

 Dragons in Chinese culture have a special place, apart from being considered as gods, dragons are also believed to be maharaja who can bring good luck. The use of the dragon symbol is a message to be conveyed in this creation, that the diversity of ethnicity in Bagan Siapi-Api needs to be maintained as a national tradition and characteristic as a Pancasila state, so that peace can be created and prosperity can be realized.

 The dance titled Bayen Api is said to depict the face of Bagansiapiapi who is religious, cultured, peace-loving and rich in cultural treasures that are unified by unifying the 3 elements and cultural identities of Malay, Chinese and Javanese ethnicities.

 The creation of movement language, property, clothing and an atmosphere that characterizes Bagansiapiapi by carrying a strong sense of unity by building a message of peace and social message, so they are able to maintain Bagansiapiapi as a traditional city that has been instilled from generation to generation so that it becomes a strong foundation in enumerating the nation's own culture.

 Meanwhile, the dance based on this research with the choreographer Maulana Syahputra, the musical arranger Rino Dezapati, the clothing, kace / known as the kelopai, is made in the form of a Chinese gate with Chinese Bagan carvings that are characterized by dragon carvings on the left and right of the shoulders.

 Clothes, a combination of Javanese and Malay designs. By using a side shawl (Javanese) and using a side cloth (Malay), the head accessories are formed or made from a golden flower shape placed between the female headdress in the form of a crown, and the creation of a tanjak by combining 3 elements of Malay, Chinese and Javanese culture.

 Ethnic movements are taken from an ethnic Chinese, Javanese and Malay. This amalgamation is used as a concept for new dance works based on ethnic and cultural identity.

 In general, the creations of Bayan Api dance are created to be performed by many dancers, both men and women or a combination of the two. The dancers generally wear traditional Malay clothes that have been modified in several parts. This modification combines several local Javanese and Chinese elements. The Javanese element can be seen in the use of a scarf tied at the waist. The shawl is a common characteristic of Javanese dancers. The shawl is then combined with a gold-patterned songket riau cloth.

 Meanwhile, the make-up used in the creation of this creative art is made in such a way that it thickens the face. Men wear a thick mustache, while in women the eyebrows are made thick and colored so they look charming. From the musical work, even though it has been influenced by modern musical instruments, the characteristic of Riau's Malay communal music is still thick to hear.

 The combination of various elements of ethnicity in the bayan dance does not only show the beauty of an artistic performance. More than that, the Bayan dance also shows how beautiful togetherness is among the many differences. A communal characteristic of the people of the archipelago which has long been accustomed to living in diversity.