Dero Dance, Traditional Dances From Central Sulawesi
Dero or Madero dance is a traditional dance originated from Poso District, Central Sulawesi and one of the Pamona Tribe's traditional traditions that can still be preserved to this day. The Pamona tribe is the original community of Poso District that inhabits almost all of the districts, even to some parts of Morowali district.
The Pomona tribe's ancestors themselves came from East Luwu, which is the region that entered into South Sulawesi region. Pamona tribe is a unity of several ethnic groups in the region of Central Sulawesi. Nevertheless, the Pamona tribe people live harmoniously and side by side. It is depicted from one of the arts that come from this tribe is dance dero poso.
For the Pamona Tribe people, Dero Dance is a dance that symbolizes joy or happiness. This dance has long been maintained by the people of Poso, especially for people living along the valley of Lake Poso. For the local community, this Dero Dance is a form of gratitude for the harvested produce. This dance has been known since people know farming or farming as a livelihood. Formerly Dero dance is commonly done by the community during the harvest, especially during the rice harvest.
This dance is quite simple, generally done in a large area or field, because the number of participants in this dance is not limited. This dance is also called a pontanu Dance or a kind of dance to invite the audience to join the dance. Anyone who wants to follow this dance can join without having to think about talent or skill.
In doing this dance is not difficult, the dancers will make a circle while holding hands with each other and then do the pounding of the foot that begins twice to the left and twice to the right. This movement is done in accordance with the tone or rhythm of the rhythm of mutual conversation. Dero dance is also accompanied by the beat of a double musical instrument is a traditional musical instrument drum and also ngongi is a traditional musical instrument like a gong played by the youth and parents.
Besides as an expression of gratitude for the harvest, the people of Poso also consider this dance as a form of harmony and friendship and as an opportunity to get a mate. This dance can also be considered as a unifying dance because in this dance there are elements of discrimination, religious sentiment and also race and social class is ignored.
Until now Dero Dance is still a tradition that is maintained by the local community. Along with the development of the times, the existence of Dero Dance is also still survived and become cultural assets of Poso district. Dero dance not only can be witnessed or followed at the time of harvest, Dero dance is also usually done on the night after the wedding or at a big event custom.
Musical instruments used were not necessarily double and ngongi, modern musical instruments such as single or electron orgen can also be an accompaniment to this unifying dance. Although there is still, dero dance today can only be found in some villages or regions only in Poso District, even this dance is not often done, in a year maybe only about 3 or 4 times we can follow Dero dance. Conflict and also the ongoing inter-religious and ethnic disputes in Poso district make one of the reasons for this dero dance difficult to find. It seems to be an irony of life in the people of Poso who formerly love peace and famous for its Dero dance.
