Gegerit Dance, Traditional Dances From South Sumatra

Gegerit Dance is one of the traditional dances originating from South Sumatra. This dance is a traditional Lahat dance that tells of a struggle of women in the face of colonialism. Etymologically, this word Gegerit can be interpreted with tired or tired, or equivalent meaning with the word-stiff. This rigid understanding refers to the movement of Gegerit Dance which is more likely to be broken and stiff. This is reflected in the half-squat movement while continuing to play the wings on the shoulders.

Gerigit dance is usually danced by 4 (four) dancers, all of whom are women. The dancers are dressed in traditional Lahat wedding dress. On the shoulder is a songket that resembles wings. Meanwhile, on the head decorated with various decorations, such as swing-cushion, cempako, pilis, and lotus.

This gegerit traditional dance is a dance that has always been danced by generations by the people of Lahat. However, this time its existence has been almost extinct because the more rare people who staged this Gegeri Dance.

Nevertheless, in recent years there are still people who care, who study and also dig this Gegerit Dance to be staged again. As a traditional dance, this dance performance is accompanied by traditional music that is dominated by musical instruments such as, dol, kenong, and drum. The rhythm produced by the blend of the instrument is more likely to cut and stomp. It is adapted to the dance movements that are rigid and broken.

Gegerit Dance contains a deep mandate about a struggle of the women of Lahat in the fight against colonialism. The content of the message is illustrated in the movement of the dancers when holding kudok, the traditional weapon typical of South Sumatra.

The mandate is still relevant to the present situation, where women are still confined by the philosophy of masculinism, thus making it an inferior being in society. But most importantly in this gegerit dance also mandated to the young generation cannot be silent, still, have to keep fighting though not in a state of war. The struggle in question is the struggle against the inner wrath within.