JP\/19\/LION<\/p>\n
Lion dancing, military style<\/p>\n
Harry Bhaskara\/The Jakarta Post
\nSemarang<\/p>\n
Staying true to the military tradition, Chief Corporal Edy
\nsprings into action when his commander instructs him to set up a
\nChinese lion dance team. He gathers his troops and in no time the
\nlion dance team, under the aegis of the Semarang-based Diponegoro
\nMilitary Command (Kodam IV Diponegoro), is set up.<\/p>\n
\"It may be the first of its kind,\" Edy said recently when
\nasked by The Jakarta Post about the team, locally known as
\nbarongsai.<\/p>\n
Edy, who is attached to the Yon Arhanud 15 battalion at the
\ncommand headquarters, says the instruction came from his
\nsuperior, Artillery Lt. Col. (ret) Eko Supriyadi.<\/p>\n
The team hired an instructor from the local Naga Hijau Club.
\n\"Pak Chandra is our trainer,\" he said, \"Outside the training,
\nteam members watch CDs on lion dances.\"<\/p>\n
Now the team, which exercises once a week, has expanded into
\nthree teams including two dragon dance teams and one unit of
\ndrummers. Each dragon team comprises 33 members.<\/p>\n
\"To date, the teams have taken part in numerous events across
\nCentral Java,\" Edy said, including the national barongsai
\nfestival in Surakarta, a trade exposition in Central Java town of
\nDemak, the opening of Wisata Dufan Mall in the Central Java town
\nof Pekalongan, a development exhibition in Boyolali and at an
\nannual Chinese New Year event.<\/p>\n
Combat-ready soldiers have a distinct performance style, with
\nthe dances being faster and more dynamic than those performed by
\ncivilian dancers. It was as if the dancers had an unlimited
\nsource of energy. This was evidenced during their recent show in
\nthe Central Java capital of Semarang during the Cheng Ho festival
\nlast month.<\/p>\n
Dancers are dressed in military outfits and the body of their
\ndragon sports similar military-type motifs, hence the name
\n\"Sasana Naga Doreng\", meaning, belonging to the Dahana Bhaladika
\nYudha unit.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp19lion-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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