MALAY CULTURE

Zapin Api

Pulau Rupat is one of the vilages in Bengkalis. Pulau Rupat  is at the north of Bengkalis area. It is as one of some villages owned by the Riau Povince.   

Pulau Rupat has some attractive  places and culture. The beach has beatiful sand. The colour of sand is shining when the sun light encounter the ground. The water at the beach is so amazing. It glows and attracts us in order to go in the water and want to swim there. In addition,  the culture is so blooming. It makes us amazed to the view that we see as if we want to  participate to dance with the dancing group.

On of the well known culture that is owned by  the Pulau Rupat is the Zapin Api or Zapin of Fire.  This dancing tradation is one of the best culture that is always kept by the society to welcome the important day such as a spesific ceremony  to accept important people or day.

The dance is named with Zapin of Fire becuse of fire is envolved in this dance. The fire is prepared by a bounced of wood or other things that can burn. Then some people turn the fire on.  After the fire is arranged in length position about 3 metres then the dance will be begun after some praying should be done.   

Before the action of  Zapin of Fire  taking the action the praying must be done. it makes the dance atmosphere is sorounded by mystique. The  mystique does not only affecting the people who recite it but also people who will act as  dancers.  

When the traditional music begins to take the part to sign the dance in order to begin to operate their body to move to show to the audience  that the power of Zapin of Fire. The atmosphere is realy so affecting with the power of traditional of mystique atmophere in which force the eyes of people to stare at the group of dance who begin to show the power of  Zapin of Fire.

In Zapin of Fire it just not only showing the power of atsmophere but alsoe it refrects the beuaty of the dance. In addtion it shows how rich the culture. The content that has in this dance informs people how the power of dance gives information the power of people at long time ago would not be underestimate.  It brings the message that society before was so amazing and so involving to the god.  

When the Zapin of Fire begins the group of dancers move around the fire as if they see there are some godess  in the dancing  area.  It happens because the power of prayers that has been summoned since the beginning of  dancing.

As mentioned above  the power of the dance involves with the mystique in which it reflects about the philosoply of the life long time ago. The dance  addresses to people that their culture at long time ago had related to some aspects of life. There is a religion involve  in daily life culture, military and etc.

In military, it is reflected to the power of mistique movement in the dance. The dancers can run through the fire without having the effect of the fire. The dancers slowly touch the coals of fire by stepping on them but the hot  of fire does not take any effect to them. It does not burn the clothe and give harm to the dancers as if they are playing in the cold fire.

In the culture, it  reflects about how the people of Rupat can work togather to face the life. the life of society is shown by the praying that had ben begun by the prayer. It means that the people are affected by the power of god in their life.

In the notion, it is shown sit by the syncorinizing of the music and the movement in dancing.  It means that they follow the rule that had been agreed togather to the leader who lead them in order the government ran well.

 The dancing of Zapin of Fire has been done for more than fourthy years until today. It began in the year of 1151. The people from Malacca they ran away from the  Portuguese colonialisation. The tehnology of Portuguese in military was more powerfull than the mistique power so that they looked for a place to live.  They sailed on the see  and found Pulau Rupat. In order to make sure wether this place was suitable or not to be lived they must do a kind of ceremony to protect the society from unlucky way. So that the ceremony was done and they found that the Pulu Rupat was the cursed  place.  In order to make the place could be lived by them so a specific ceremony must be done so that the rising of Zapin of Fire began.

 Panglima Sage Dagendang was asked by the court of Malacca to find a people who had a powerfull mistique who could  call the gins who dominated the water, fire, ground and wind. Four great  powerfull men were choosen as pawang besar (powerfull great mistyque men) so the ceremony to call the four spirits began.  In this calling three spirits had come to communicate and receive the invitation but one of the spirits did not  accept  the invitation. The fire spirit wanted to accept the invitation if they did a special ceremony. The people who master the great mistyque power and the people at that time were agreed to do that and the dance of Zapin of Fire was done for the first time.

At first, the prayers who were able call  the spirit  were not in Islam culture mode but after Islam affected the religion in this society the sermon had change to Islam mode. The sermon to call the spirit was changed to the pray to god but still the power of mistyque atsmophere still involves in the Zapin of Fire

When the dance is doing by the dancers the people usualy stare at the dancers movoment to step the bounce of fire. It makes  the audients thrill to the action. It makes them asking in their heart what does really happen to the dancers when they do it. The question begins to rise in their mind “ do the dancers use the shoes to protect their feet? But in the reality the dancers use nothing to protect their feet.

They walk on the fire like there is no fire on their feet. The fire does not touch the clothes they use. They breath normaly without an  obstacle in their breathing. It makes the audiences stare to the hot performance in their eyes. They would think how amazing  the performance is.  

  

Nowsaday this dance has been one of a beautifull dance that  attracts the tourist to come to Pulau Rupat. So that the government of Pulau Rupat focuses to this dance. The government wants  this dance must be kept and must not in extinction from the surface of the culture. They try saving this uncountable wealthy and it must be in watch of the culture of government office.