TARI RATOH JAROE THE SPIRIT OF ACEH WOMEN

TARI RATOH JAROE THE SPIRIT OF ACEH WOMEN

Sumber foto: https://www.gambaranimasi.pro/

A dance created to awaken the spirit of women from the province of Aceh. Tari Ratoh Jaroe is not a traditional dance but a dance that is still new, was created around 2000 this dance was initiated by a migrant from Aceh Province who moved to the capital city of Jakarta to get a job. According to encyclopedia.jakarta-tourism.go.id the name of the dance also has a meaning that is "Ratoh" which means dhikr (pray) and "Jaroe" means hand, so it can be translated dhikr (pray) while moving hands.

The author reads from an article that the nickname of the creator or pioneer of the Tari Ratoh Jaroe is Dek Gam, which has the original name of Yusril Saleh, with a musical instrument called Rapa’i, is a traditional musical instrument from Aceh. Rapai is a percussion instrument that has 5 types of shapes and each instrument has a different function, one of which is round like a large bowl, the bottom is hollow and the top is covered with cowhide material or the like resembling a tambourine but has a different sound.


Dek Gam (Yusril Saleh) created the dance not purely his own creation but by combining some of the traditional dances of Aceh Province such as Meuseukat retreat, Likok Puo, Rapai Geleng, and several other Aceh dances.

This dance is only for women so that the costume covers the entire body except the face and hands (only up to the wrist) and is generally done with an even number. The Indonesian Record Museum (MURI) once gave an award to the Ratoh Jaroe dance in Jakarta with the highest number of dancers, namely 6,600 dancers performed at the close of 41st TMII (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah) Anniversary. Tari Ratoh Jaro was also performed at the opening of the 2018 SEA GAMES which was held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK).

The dominant way to dance is by using hands in a seated position, kneeling, bending, half standing (standing on the knee). All dancers use the same movements because Tari Ratoh Jaroe is a dance performed together with the same rhythmic movements. Accompanied by music from Rapa'i and chanting poetry that is sung when the dance has begun.

I did not find information about the location of the studio that can be visited. You can find a lot of documentation and dance groups on social media Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, ect or on Instagram with the hashtag #ratohjaroe.

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