Sisingaan Dancing in West Java

Amazingly, I was able to find a youtube video of the sisingaan dance (circumcision ceremony) that was taken here in Bandung. It is probably very similar to what had just taken place as we drove up the hill to meet our friends for lunch yesterday. Click on the arrow above to get an idea of the sights and sounds of this traditional dance.

this certainly looks innocent enough

Ok, so I’ve learned a little more about the “lion dancers” (my name for them) that we saw yesterday. Ferry volunteered that the name of the dance is sisingaan. By knowing the name and having google at my disposal, I was able to understand the meaning of this traditional West Javanese folk dance.

sisingaan dancers take a break on roadside

finished for the day

By the time we headed home, the 

dancers were loaded up and leaving.

Sisingaan was traditionally used in West Java for circumcision ceremonies and other ritual events. According to Ferry, it is sometimes used at weddings. With only a “drive by” glimpse of the children playing on the lions and the costumed dancers resting by the roadside, Ronnie and I mistakenly thought it was some type of carnival ride or entertainment.

But after learning more about it, I’ll be honest and say that sisingaan scares the bejeebies out of me. Why? Isn't sisingaan dancing simply entertainment? Read on...

Sisingaan is a celebration of music and dance that announces to the community that a boy has been circumcised. Men wearing colorful costumes (pants, headbands, belts, shoes) carry stretchers with lions mounted on top and dance to the music of traditional Indonesian instruments (wooden trumpet, percussion, kempul, gong and kecrek). These dances sometimes involve acrobatic, dance and martial arts movements. According to one source (link below) “the tunes are rhythmic and repetitive, foretelling about the possession at the end of the day with their trance-like quality.”

Circumcision is significant, in that it announces that the child is now part of the Muslim umma (community of believers) and their formal religious training is about to commence.

dancers practice before show at Saung Angklung Ugjo

As with many folk customs, there is a spiritual element involved. Though most articles I found were in bahasa Indonesia and didn’t translate well enough to be helpful, I was fortunate to find one in English that outlines from beginning to end what is involved in this ceremonial “dance.” In describing the preparations leading up to sisangaan, it states “To prepare for a safe performance the local spirits and ancestors are invited. The opening includes a mixture of Islamic prayers and offerings of coconuts, sugar, fruit, betel, small pieces of meat, cigarettes, sweet smelling balm and incenses. An old man recites the proper mantras over the offerings and burns the incense. Each of the members approaches the offerings and meditates for a moment in front of them, inhaling the fragrances…” (cont.)

The article below “Entertainment and circumcisions: sisingaan dancing in West Java” is lengthy but it is an interesting read if you desire to know more.

http://www.globalstudies.gu.se/digitalAssets/809/809976_hellman.pdf