Pos Indonesia 1997 "Indonesian Culture"

POS INDONESIA in 1997 issued a First Day Cover set of stamps entitled "Indonesian Culture". It was the sixth year of issuance with dance designs featuring all the regional dances in Indonesia. In the 1997 publication, the dances performed came from Central Sulawesi, Central Kalimantan, Central Java, North Sumatra and Bali.

On the special 1997 Indonesian Culture series stamps, the Mapoputi Cengke Dance from Central Sulawesi, the Mandau Talawang Nyai Balau Dance from Central Kalimantan, the Gambyong Dance from Central Java, the Cawan Dance from North Sumatra and the Keraton Legong Dance from Bali were used as the stamp designs. Each stamp measures 25.31 mm x 41.06 mm with perforations 13.50 x 12.75, respectively with denominations of Rp. 150, Rp. 300, Rp. 600, Rp. 700 and Rp. 1000.

 

Apart from the stamps, a cover is also issued. first day, first day cover with memory slips and memory slips. The Gambyong dance from Central Java was used as a design for the 1997 Indonesian Culture series. The Keraton Legong Dance is one of the classical Balinese dances. The name Legong Keraton is composed of the words "leg", "gong" and "keraton". The word "leg" means supple or elastic, which can then be interpreted as a graceful movement (dance), while "gong" means gamelan. The word "keraton" itself means palace. So the Legong Keraton dance can be interpreted as a dance movement that is closely tied to the gamelan that accompanies it and is performed in the palace environment.

The Talawang Nyai Balau Mandau Dance reflects the heroism of Dayak women from Central Kalimantan who are brave and never give up in defending the nation. As the name suggests, the Mandau dance is a dance that shows skill and skill in playing or using weapons, namely the Mandau which is a traditional Dayak weapon, and Telabang which is a traditional Dayak shield.

The Gambyong dance was originally only played in the Kesunanan Surakarta neighborhood as an entertainment performance for the sixth Sinuhun Paku Buwono and a welcoming dance when there were guests of honor who visited the Kesunanan Surakarta. In its development, this dance was also played as entertainment for the wider community. In Central Javanese society, this dance is known as a social dance, usually performed to welcome guests or start a wedding reception. The distinctive feature is that it always opens with the Pangkur piece.

The Cup Dance is a development of the Tor Tor dance which uses a cup as a dancing tool. At first this dance was only danced by a dancer known as a Baso (female shaman), who had supernatural abilities and was a medium or therapist. All the movements in the dance make the female shaman considered a worthy and clever dancer, because when she dances the dance, with a combination of jumping movements and stomping her hands, the cup containing the holy water she is carrying does not fall. Not many dancers dare to dance the cup dance, because there is a taboo against dropping the cup used in this dance.

The Keraton Legong Dance is one of the classical Balinese dances. The name Legong Keraton is composed of the words "leg", "gong" and "keraton". The word "leg" means flexible or elastic, which can then be interpreted as a graceful movement (dance), while "gong" means gamelan. The word "keraton" itself means palace. So the Legong Keraton dance can be interpreted as a dance movement that is closely tied to the gamelan that accompanies it and is performed in the palace environment.