Pakarena


Pakarena Dance is a Bugis tribal traditional dance originating from South Sulawesi, Indonesia. In its appearance, this traditional dance is played by 4 dancers and accompanied by musical instruments in the form of gandrang and puik puik. Gandrang is a musical instrument made of drums, while puik-puik is a wind instrument similar to a flute.
In the past this type of classical dance was presented as a medium of worship to the gods. The beauty and uniqueness of this pakarena dance movement then gradually shifted the dance's function as a medium of entertainment. According to various historical sources, pakarena dance has been known by the people of Gowa, South Sulawesi during the Gantarang kingdom. From the movements in the dance performed by 4 female dancers, they have several philosophies that tell the story of life.
The story conveyed through dance is the story of humans with the inhabitants of the sky. Where the inhabitants of the sky, whether described as heavenly gods or nymphs, teach humans about how to survive on earth from how to find food in the forest to farming on the ground. From this legend, there is a growing belief in the Gowa community that the movements carried out by dancers are full of food movements as an expression of gratitude to the inhabitants of the heavens. Along with the times, this unique dance from South Sulawesi is very popular among the surrounding communities and finally makes pakarena dance become one of the entertainment media that attracts the hearts of the audience.