Saman Dance for 8th graders

April-June 2009. Scarsdale Middle School, 8th grade classrooms. Collaborating teachers: Cheryl Orlandi, Melissa Zeiler, Chris Reali.

Four 8th grade classes of Cheryl Orlandi's and four 8th grade classes of Melissa Zeiler's took turns in learning the special Indonesian dance from Aceh ethnic group called the Saman dance. It is also called the Thousand Hands dance because it requires a lot of hand movements and hand-eye coordination. The dance is originally performed during important community celebrations in Aceh, but has now become a regular top dance in many Indonesian cultural performances. Students found this dance very unique and they quickly learned all the basic patterns, the rhythmic movements, and the quickened tempos of the dance in just a few lessons. Two classes performed the dance accompanied by students from Chris Reali's music class who beat the drums according to the rhythms of the dance songs. A great collaboration between the teachers and also students!