Randai

Randai is a folk theater tradition of the Minangkabau ethnic group which incorporates music, singing, dance, drama and the "silat" martial art. "Randai" is usually performed for traditional ceremonies and festivals, and complex stories may span a number of nights.cite journal |title=The Daughters Take Over? Female Performers in Randai Theatre |last=Pauka |first=Kirstin |journal=The Drama Review |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=113–121 |date=1998 |doi=10.1162/105420498760308706] It is performed as a theatre-in-the-round to achieve an equality and unity between audience members and the performers. [cite journal |title=Umbuik Mudo and the Magic Flute: A Randai Dance-Drama |journal=Asian Theatre Journal |date=2003 |volume=20 |issue=2 |last=Pauka |first=Kirstin] "Randai" performances are a synthesis of alternating martial arts dances, songs, and acted scenes. Stories are delivered by both the acting and the singing and are mostly based upon Minangkabau legends and folktales. "Randai" originated early in the 20th century out of fusion of local martial arts, story-telling and other performance traditions. [cite journal |title=Look at the Clouds: Migration and West Sumatran ‘Popular’ Theatre |last=Cohen |first=Matthew Isaac |journal=New Theatre Quarterly |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=214–229 |date=2003 |doi=10.1017/S0266464X03000125] Men originally played both the male and female characters in the story, but since the 1960s women have also participated.

References

Further reading

*cite book
last = Pauka
first = Kirstin
title = Theater and Martial Arts in West Sumatra: Randai and Silek of the Minangkabau
publisher = Ohio University Center for International Studies
date = 1998
id = ISBN 089-68-0205-1