Dance of Sama

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Uploaded by on Apr 18, 2009

Originally Sama was the name of a primitive religion . People would pray to gods of nature for hunting and harvest by singing, beating drums, and dancing at the command of the ritual leader

For instance, raised hands were interpreted as "Huda god is in heaven," and a hand touching the chest, "Huda is in my heart." Suona horns and iron drums were used for accompaniment. The whole performance was solemn and the dancers were not allowed to laugh. In a temple the dance had no musical accompaniment. The performers simply shouted, "E'wu, e'wu e'wu," rhythmically while they danced. But on ordinary occasions the performance was joyous and jubilant.

Sama is mainly performed by men, except in a few places. The steady footwork and vigorous movements are closely coordinated with the drumbeat. At the beat of the drum the dancers stamp the ground and hold, not raising the foot immediately.

The hands are held in a natural half fist. The performer extends his fingers as he swings his arm, then clenches them again as he pulls his arm back. A common movement is a brush step followed by a spin or a step followed by a jump and turn.

Sama rhythms are strong and vigorous. The main instruments are suona horns and iron drums. Drums with different tones form a group, producing a striking tonal effect. The melodies played by the suona horns are quite flexible and not restricted by the drumbeat.

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