Didong is a
Gayo folk art that combines elements of dance, vocals, and literature from
Aceh
Aceh ( , ; , Jawi script, Jawoë: ; Van Ophuijsen Spelling System, Old Spelling: ''Atjeh'') is the westernmost Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is located on the northern end of Sumatra island, with Banda Aceh being its capit ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
. The performing arts of Didong are performed by men in groups (usually 15 in number), with free expression, while sitting cross-legged or standing, stomping their feet. They sing Gayo-language poems in a melodious voice, while beating drums, pillows or pots and clapping their hands in various ways, giving rise to beautiful and interesting sounds and movements.
The poems that are sung with the power of combining the configuration of the art of motion, literature, and sound are like "bewitching" the audience to "float" and continue to hear social and religious reflections from the ''ceh-ceh didong'' on various social problems that exist in society, along with the relationship between humans and nature, so that life can be handled wisely.
See also
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Saman dance
Saman (also known as the dance of a thousand hands) is one of the most popular dances in Indonesia. Its origin is from the Gayo ethnic group from Gayo Lues, Aceh province, Indonesia, and it is usually performed to celebrate important occasions ...
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Dance in Indonesia
Dance in Indonesia () reflects the country's diversity of Ethnic groups in Indonesia, ethnicities and Culture of Indonesia, cultures. There are more than 600 ethnic groups in Indonesia. Austronesian people, Austronesian roots and Melanesian t ...
References
{{Dance of Indonesia
Dances of Indonesia