Basically, the Nusantara Archipelago is rich in terms of culture and also a tradition. It could happen because Nusantara has many ethnic groups. Then, almost every tribe has its own culture and traditions regarding traditional dances. It includes the native tribe of Papua who has the Yospan Dance.
The dance of Yospan is definitely a contemporary traditional dance of Papua that describes happiness and friendship among youngsters. Usually, you can see this dance at various events. Starting from some traditional ceremonies, welcoming guests ceremonies, and festivals.
Its existence is definitely very important for the people that live there. Therefore, here is the story and the philosophy behind the Yospan Dance that you need to know!
The Origin
In fact, Yospan is inspired by several other dances that exist before it. The name itself explains it all, Yospan is an abbreviation of Yosim Pancar. So, the origin of the Yospan Dance is definitely those two performances.
Basically, the two of them are traditional dances that have already existed in Papua even since years ago. It definitely existed even before Yospan was created. Yospan itself was only made in the 20th century, precisely in the 1960s at the end of Dutch colonialism.
In fact, Yosim and Pancar originate from different areas in different eras. Yosim originates from the Sairei Bay area in Serul, Waropen, Papua Province. It is different from Pancar which originates from Biak Island and Manokwari Regency, West Papua Province.
Besides originating from different provinces, the moves of these two performances are also different. The dance moves of Yosim look more lively because it prioritizes freedom in expressing movement. Basically, Yosim Dance is similar to Poleneis Dance which originates from Europe.
This is obviously different from the Pancar Dance. Because the dance moves of Pancar must follow the rhythm of the instrument that accompanies it. So, the moves are indeed stiffer than the Yosim Dance.
Then, the dance movements of Yospan are a combination of both dances. Despite following the rhythm of the musical instruments, the movements of dances obviously still look lively and expressive.
The Movement
Basically, the main movement of Yospan Dance is inspired by jet planes during colonialism. So, you can see a lot of aerobic movement while watching this dance. One of the most popular movements is the Pancar Gas. It is a dance move similar to the planes passing through the white clouds.
There are two teams that participate in this dance, namely a group of musicians and a group of dancers. The group of musicians will play various musical instruments, such as tifa, ukulele, guitar, kalabasa, etc. Then, the dancing group will dance around the circle.
There are no rules about how many dancers. But, usually, it is more than 6 people. Then, there are no rules about their gender, or age. Everyone can join the dance. To make it more festive, they will occasionally shout and sing while doing the dance.
The Purposes
Just like other regional dances, the purpose of Yospan Dance is to introduce the culture of Papua. Moreover, in the dance of Yospan, you can see the basic movements of various other dances. For example, such as the Seka Dance, Pacul Tiga Dance, Gale-Gale Dance, and Jef Dance.
All these dances come from different regencies in the land of Papua. From this cultural assimilation, a new form of dance was created. Then, it became one of the identities of the Papuan people. No wonder Yospan is very popular. Not only regionally and nationally, but to the international level.
Aside from that, Yospan Dance is also a social dance of Papuan people. The dance is a friendship symbol of the community. Because, no matter who you are, you can join in and dance to it. This dance indeed does contain a lot of deep philosophy.
