Seblang Dance

Seblang Dance

Seblang is one of the rituals Using community that can only be found in two villages within the district Glagah-Banyuwangi, namely, the village and Olihsari Bakungan. This ritual is carried out for the village clean and starting reinforcements, in order to remain in a state of the village safe and secure. This ritual is the same as in the ritual Sintren Cirebon, Jaran braid, and Trance in Bali. Operation Seblang dance in the two villages is also different time, in the village Olihsari held one week after Idul Fitri, while in the village Bakungan, held a week after the Eid al-Adha.

The dancers selected supernaturally by the local shaman, and usually the dancer must be chosen from the descendants of previous seblang dancers. In the village Olihsari, dancers must be an immature girl, while in Bakungan, dancers must be women aged 50 years and over who had menopause (menopause). Seblang dance is actually a very old tradition, it was difficult to trace the origin of commencement.

However, historical records show that the first known Seblang is Spring, which also became the first woman Gandrung dance pioneer (died 1973). After recovering from his illness, then his mother's vow (Mak Midah or Mak Milah) must be met, Semi finally made seblang in his childhood until the age when teens start to become a dancer Gandrung. Seblang dance begins with a ceremony that was opened by the village shaman or handler. The dancers blindfolded by the mothers who stands behind it, holding "tempeh" (bamboo tray).

The shaman bloat the dancer with the smoke of incense while reading incantations. After the trance dancer (unconscious or kejiman in local terms), with a fall of tempeh before, then the show began. The kejiman seblang already been dancing with monotonous movements, eyes closed and follow the direction of the handler or the shaman and the rhythm of the piece being played. Sometimes while dancing around the village. After a while dancing, then the seblang throws scarf rolled toward the spectators, viewers are exposed to the scarf should be willing to dance with the Seblang. If not, then he will be persecuted by Seblang to want to dance. Seblang musical accompaniment consists of only one drum, one kempul or gongs and two saron.

While in Olihsari coupled with the violin as an addition to musical effect. In terms of fashion, dancers Seblang in Olihsari with Bakungan a little different, especially on the part omprok or crown. In Seblang dancers in the village Olihsari, omprok usually made from banana bark in shredded to cover part of the dancer's face, while the uppers are fresh flowers which are usually taken from the garden or the area around the cemetery, and coupled with a small glass is placed in the middle omprok.

At dancers seblang Bakungan region, omprok used closely resembles that used in the show omprok Gandrung, only materials used are made ​​of banana bark and decorated with fresh flowers, though not as much as a dancer in Olihsari seblang. Besides the elements of mysticism, ritual Seblang also provide entertainment for visitors and locals, where many funny scenes that displayed by the dancers of this seblang.