In the know about traditional dances from the Biak tribe in Raja Ampat, West Papua. Here is interesting information about the Wor dance of the Biak tribe that you should know:
What is Wor Dance, and Where Does Wor Dance Come From?
Wor dance is a traditional dance from the Biak tribe. As you know, The Biak tribe is an indigenous tribe that occupies the Raja Ampat area in Papua. According to the local language or Biak language, Wor means to read a poem while dancing.
In the past, generally, the Biak tribe performed this dance to cheer up the clan leader who would fight on the battlefield. This dance can inflame the spirit of war in people who will fight on the battlefield. However, at this time, the Biak tribe’s Wor dance is performed at cultural events, weddings, and welcoming guests.
The Biak tribe dances, the Wor dance, is accompanied by music from the traditional Papuan instrument, Tifa. About eighteen Wor songs exist, but the Biak tribe only uses twelve songs. One of the Wor songs the Biak tribe uses in their Wor dance is Dow Mamun, a war or victory song.
If you look at its history, the Biak tribe often plays wor dance and song in their daily life, such as gardening, weaving, and catching fish.
While gardening and weaving, Biak tribal women play wor dances and songs in memory of loved ones who live far away or have died. Meanwhile, when catching fish or fighting, they play this Wor dance and music to ask the spirit for help.
Dancing the Wor Dance
This traditional dance of the Biak tribe can be performed individually or in groups. No maximum number of people can dance this dance, and even one Biak tribe can dance to this dance.
Cite from a book entitled Indonesian Language Persona Towards the 21st Century, the Biak tribe dances this Wor dance in a circular motion. In this dance, several people lead the dance by singing, shouting, and jumping.
In dancing the Wor dance, the Biak tribe will answer each other to jazz up this dance. Some members of the Biak tribe will be the baiters or Kadwor, and others will be the answerers or Fuar.
For this Wor dance, the Biak tribe wears the fabric of the Biak tribe. The dominant colors for this Wor dance costume are blue and red. Male dancers will be shirtless and wear a headdress, feather, as their bandana. Meanwhile, the female dancers wear Papuans tassel skirts.
Wor Dance Current Condition
This traditional dance from the Biak tribe is increasingly difficult to find. There are several reasons. The first is the erosion of traditional culture by modernization.
Second, this dance becomes difficult for the public to meet because, in its implementation, this dance requires quite mature preparation and big funds.
Eagle Oseven, in his journal entitled Profile of Papua Province, explained that the Wor dance is a special performance. The Biak tribe only shows this traditional dance at big events, like Wor Sababu. For your information, Wor Sababu is an event for newborns in the Biak tribe.
Biak Tribe in Wor-Yospan Dance Parade
Some time ago, in March 2022, the Biak tribe from the Biak Numfor district took part in the Wor-Yospan dance parade. In this parade, about 1,200 members of the Biak tribe participated in the Wor dance.
The Biak Numfor Regional Government organized the Wor dance and Yospan Dance Parade. Some Biak residents welcomed the implementation of the Wor and Yospan dance cultural parade because it helped preserve the authenticity of the indigenous Papuan culture, especially the Biak Tribe.
