Festival Jepen, Faces of Islam in the Malay Dance Intercourse

Tarakan Borneo - Community Tarakan in East Kalimantan will excite joy in Jepen Festival 2010. This effort to preserve local arts and cultural community-owned coastal beach.

"I was living-dead in the arts and culture. One of them Jepen, "said Asrani, cultural and dance Jepen conservationists in East Kalimantan (Kaltim). Men from aquatic mammal was then revealed at once a love for art and culture kegundahannya tradition.

One concern is Asrani Jepen dance, folk dance-influenced Kutai Malay culture and Islam. According to him, the fate of social dance popular among the coastal communities were not much different from other dance traditions. This means, he said, dance Jepen in Kaltim not booming but still survive and not disappear.

"Some areas are still often demonstrates this dance for example in the aquatic mammal, Berau, Tarakan, Tana Tidung, Grand Indonesia, and East Kutai," called the man who had established a culture of art galleries in 1992.

Just like a social dance, dance Jepen usually danced in pairs that describe the joy as well as gratitude. Costume worn was usually vibrant and rich color as a symbol of joy. Men usually wear long dancer, dressed in the Gulf Belangga (arm length) and female dancers bersarung.Sedangkan gloved and berkebaya with typical regional model respectively.

This energetic dance using basic motion of feet and hand waving, to the accompaniment of songs and music typical of Kutai called Tingkilan. The instrument consists of psaltery (a kind of stringed guitar 6) and ketipung (a kind of small drum). "This dance is also sometimes interspersed with rhymes reverberate," says Asrani.

Besides in Borneo, he continued, Jepen as Malay-Islamic-based dance was also popular in other coastal regions such as Riau and North Sumatra. In fact, in Batavia is also developing Japin dance music accompanied by harp and a small drum. Geographically, Jepen also live in Sarawak (Malaysia), Tawi-Tawi (Brunei Darussalam) and Tawao (Philippines).

"Penamaannya may be different. Can dance Jepen, Japin, or Zapin. But, equally breath Malay-Islamic, "said Asrani.

As a dance association, Jepen originally performed solely for the pleasure of the culprit (kelangenan) to later become part of the lifestyle of coastal communities. When there is a wedding or circumcision ceremony, guests were entertained with this dance. That said, the kings of Kutai were often ordered this folk art to celebrate her birthday or welcome the Islamic New Year. In addition, dance is also prevalent Jepen displayed in a procession to welcome the guest of honor like to welcome the minister.

"I hope the future generation will never leave the local cultural arts. If properly managed and conserved, art and culture can also bring in foreign exchange, "he said.

Hapiza, a dance teacher from the studio Jepen Development of Indonesian Arts (BSBI) in Samarinda have similar expectations. For that, a woman who has five years of teaching this dance happy dance traditions teach that to children in kindergartens and primary schools in the studio on the second floor of his house. While Hapiza and his youngest daughter dance Jepen, his eldest son Tingkilan music expertly played.

"We only have 35 children who practice dance. However, seeing the kids know and love the dance itself is a pride for me. It is rather difficult to find a new seed because children nowadays are more interested nge-band, "said the mother of two children.

Hapiza grateful that almost all primary school currently requires that the local content subject areas of art so that children can be challenged to bring dance, theater, and folk songs. As a result, children who initially did not like just getting excited, especially if there is a race or a festival.

"The group dance contest winner will usually be invited by the government to stage around the outside of the city. Thus, embedded in the minds of children that the dance area can bring them explored throughout Indonesia, "he explained.

So far, continued Hapiza, group dance studio has BSBI stage in many cities such as Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Manado and Jakarta TMII Pavilion in East Kalimantan. He also hoped the government would give more attention to local art can be more frequently performed abroad.

Promotion Director of the Interior Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Kemenbudpar) Fath Bahri said it was often include local dance teams to go to the mission of RI culture abroad. Among them in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Shanghai, Australia, Germany, to America. "Usually the dance group that judged the winner of the competition and we want to include the good," he said.

According Fath, organizing competitions and festivals Jepen also an effective way to preserve and foster a spirit of folk art in order not to wilt. To that end, fully supports the implementation Kemenbudpar Jepen Festival 2010 held in Tarakan, starting October 30 to 31. According to him, although new participants include the districts and cities in Kalimantan, the festival has been designated as a national festival.

"The festival is already the third time and aims spur society to preserve the dance Jepen as potential areas. I see great dance, energetic, not monotonous and shows shades of joy of youth. In addition Jepen dance, dance performances and music from other regions will also appear in Jepen Festival 2010, "he explained.

Fathul hope through dance competitions in the festival spirit of the people will be pumping Jepen. Usually, he said, long before the festival spirit of community practice to reach the victory target in a healthy manner. In addition, through the creation race be born Dance Jepen Jepen Furnaces, Jepen Wave Dance, Dance Jepen 29, Dance Dance Jepen Jepen Sidabil and Tali. Generally, the new creation dance has experienced growth in terms of movement and costume, although breath Aseli Jepen dance still remain attached.

"Movement and dance costume color Jepen now begin more daring, because after difestivalkan people considered that a more vibrant and creative is what will win. For that, the choreographer is required to be creative and innovative, "he said.


Tour History and Culture in Tarakan

Tarakan is an island located at the northern tip of East Kalimantan province. The island was chosen as the venue Jepen Festival 2010 due to a very strategic location, which is bordered by Malaysia and the Philippines to the north. Tarakan also often used as a destination for tourists from the states of Sabah (Malaysia), Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Japan, China, Korea and other Pacific countries. The travelers from Australia and New Zealand is also not difficult to reach this region.

In the past, Tarakan island also has an emotional attachment with the three major countries ie Japan, America and Australia. The three countries involved in the Pacific War when fighting Tarakan. Therefore, in addition to beautiful nature, Tarakan also has a number of historic attractions are a silent witness to the awesomeness of the Pacific War. Among other oil cargo, bunkers, weapons storage, round house, fortress, cannons and aircraft debris.

Cultural and historical wealth owned Tarakan island makes this area of 281 square kilometers worth a visit. Moreover, the distance between one tourist attraction to one another not too far away. Virtually, Tarakan is an exotic paradise of natural attractions and fantastic. (Indah Susanti / Newspapers SI / tty)

Source: lifestyle.okezone (October 29, 2010)