Rancak Denok Dance of Semarang City, Central Java Province
It is known fact that each region has signature traditional dances. What about Semarang City? One of the most famous ones is called Rancak Denok Dance. It is a kind of a masked dance. The locals have performed it for generation and it even turns into a new attraction for outsiders or tourists! In terms of etymology, it consists of two words. “Rancak” means swift or dynamic, while “Denok” means females. No wonder, the dance is performed by female dancers and it involves swift and fast movements. Somehow, it looks so entertaining!
The Nuance
For the information, the locals perform Rancak Denok Dance either at closed or open stage depending on the demand. What about the nuance? Due to the swift moves of the dancers, the audience might feel both inspired and entertained. Somehow, it even gives energy to them! Another good benefit is that the dance gives an interesting vibe, so no one gets bored while watching it. Once again, only females are allowed to perform the dance. After all, the name describes it that way, no?
More about Rancak Denok Dance
Usually, Rancak Denok Dance consists of 6 dancers but it can be more depending on the demand and the size of the stage. It can even be smaller than that! The next thing to know is related to the attire. The prime fabric is called Kebaya and it comes with light color. As a secondary fabric, there is “Jarik Semarangan”. What about the ornaments? These dancers wear a head adornment called Konde with a flower on it. This feature represents the Chinese culture, actually. What is more? Another important ornament is none other than a mask.
When it comes to the movements, Rancak Denok Dance offers both energetic and swift moves. No wonder, the audience would feel excited while watching the performance. The next allure is related to the music or accompaniment. It is actually determined by Salendro musicians (especially in terms of creativity). However, the modern Rancak Denok has undergone a slight change. In the past, it came with a live accompaniment. These days, the locals use recorded music in order to make it more efficient.
As for tourists, they are allowed to watch the dance freely and join other local audience on the site. There is one rule, though. They are not allowed to disturb the dancers during the performance. This includes taking photos with the flashlight feature on. If they want to ask for the dance lesson, it must be done at other time!
Nearby Attractions
- Simpang Lima Square
- Lawang Semu
- Tugu Muda
- Brown Canyon
- Kasmaran Park
How to Get There
The best place to watch Renok Denok Dance is none other than Semarang City itself. If tourists come from Jakarta City (the capital of Indonesia), they need to choose either a land or air transportation service to get to the destination. The second option is considered the best, though. What tourists need to do is to get an airplane at Soekarno – Hatta Airport and head to Ahmad Yani International Airport right away. This flight may take approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes, actually.
Where to Stay
- City One Hotel
- Griya Rambutan
- Peterongan Residence
- New Metro Hotel
- Dafam Hotel
- Ibis Hotel
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