Tandok dance (

Batak Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of closely related Austronesian peoples, Austronesian ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia, who speak Batak languages. The term is used to include the Karo people ( ...

: ''ᯖᯢ᯲oᯃ᯲'' )is a traditional

dance originating from the

North Sumatra North Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. Its capital and largest city is Medan on the east coast of the island. It borders Aceh to the northwest, Riau to the sou ...

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, ...

. This dance tells about the activities of harvesting rice using ''tandok'' carried out by mothers in the fields. In addition, this dance also contains the importance of

family values Family values, sometimes referred to as familial values, are traditional or cultural values that pertain to the family's structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals. Additionally, the concept of family values may be understood ...

between each other.

Form and movement

Tandok dancers are generally women who wear traditional Batak clothes, which are dominated by black and red. The dance properties used include tandok,

ulos Ulos is the traditional tenun fabric of the Batak people of North Sumatra in Indonesia. The ulos is normally worn draped over the shoulder or shoulders, or in weddings to ceremonially bind the bride and groom together. Ulos are traditionally ha ...

, and

sarong A sarong or a sarung (, ) is a large tube or length of textile, fabric, often wrapped around the waist, worn in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, Northern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric often ...

. The Tandok dance is usually danced by four dancers, but this does not become a standard. It can also be performed by an even number of dancers more than four. This traditional dance is accompanied by Gondang music. Similar to

gamelan Gamelan (; ; , ; ) is the traditional musical ensemble, ensemble music of the Javanese people, Javanese, Sundanese people, Sundanese, and Balinese people, Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussion instrument, per ...

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

and

Bali Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...

, Gondang is also an ensemble musical instrument that has variations. If the Javanese gamelan and the variations in the music produced are based on the skill of the salendro players, the variations on the Gondang are on the ''Sarune'' and ''Taganing players''. The Tandok dance movement is dominated by hand movements. In certain parts the dancers then form a new formation with the Tandok in the middle. The movement illustrates the atmosphere of gathering in a container that is usually done by mothers in the fields. The Tandok dance movement in general also describes the Tor Tor movement that mothers do every time there is a party and celebration, while using the tandok as a head covering.

Meaning

Tandok dance has a deep message about the close family ties in the Batak land. In addition, the Tandok dance also depicts the Batak people who have always lived as an agrarian nation, a nation that is closely related to planting culture and respecting nature such as respecting their ancestors.

References

{{Dance of Indonesia Dance in Indonesia

Form and movement

Meaning

See also

References