Pace Batik Dance, Traditional Dance From East Java

Batik Pace dance is one of the traditional dances originating from East Java. This dance is inspired by the founder of Pacitan City who in his struggle to drink pace or mengkudu juice that grows a lot in the area Pacitan. Batik Pace dance is one of the traditional dances that are quite popular in East Java and are still often staged in events, such as welcoming the big guests, weddings and also other events.

The Origin of Batik Pace Dance

According to some sources, Batik Pace Dance was created by Anang, the founder Sanggar Blarak Pacitan. This dance accommodates the history of the pace and the need to introduce a unique work in the form of Pace batik. According to Anang Batik Pace dance is a contemporary dance, by adopting a beautiful dance movement.

Giving name Batik Pace itself because the first Pacitan has a history of an area that is overgrown by pace plants (mengkudu). The myth that spread among the people, the founder of Pacitan in the struggle to drink pace juice is then become strong. The story is written in Babad Ing Pacitan, so some of the Pacitan people believe that this Pacitan name comes from the phrase pace sak pengetan, which means a place of fruit pace.

Performance Batik Pace Dance

In the show, Batik Pace Dance is usually danced by 5 (five) dancers. This dance begins with the entry of the dancers to the stage with a quick turning motion in front of the stage. Then the dancers form a formation, so 3 dancers on the left corner of the stage and 2 dancers on the right corner of the stage. The three dancers demonstrate the movement with the left and right hands pointing up and down alternately, as they move backward regularly. While a dancer plays a batik-dipping movement and another dancer plays the motion of drying batik cloth that has been made.

The dancers then use the medium of batik pace cloth by laying the batik cloth on the back of the hips and turning the fore followed by the movement of the body facing the audience. Together the five dancers moved agile and lined up, holding a circular batik cloth body, with legs swinging left and right. This movement is quite amazing and also attractive.

Batik Pace Dance Companion

Batik Pace dance is accompanied by music coming from 2 (two) percussion beats percussion and 2 (two) people play slenthem. The collaboration of the music produces a beautiful sound. Percussion and slenthem sound to produce a beautiful tune in accompanying dance movements Batik Pace becomes more attractive.

Development of Batik Pace Dance

In its development, Batik Pace Dance is still continuously preserved and learned by some art galleries that are there. In addition to being featured on major events, this dance is also often performed at other events such as guest reception and cultural festivals. This is done as an effort in preserving and introducing to the wider community of Batik Pace dance art.