The guel dance is a typical dance of the Gayo community in Central Aceh Regency, Indonesia. This dance can be performed by male and female dancers. Based on the historical narrative of the Gayo people, the guel dance is a physical exercise tradition inspired by the legend of the brothers Sengeda and Bener Merie (Bener Meriah) from the Linge Kingdom who were looking for a white elephant to present to a king's daughter.
Therefore, several elements of the dance movements reflect the character of the elephant. Apart from the form aspect, every element of the guel dance movement also contains a philosophy that contains moral messages and social values.
This guel dance is an important part of the Gayo community, which is used in every procession to welcome important government guests. Also part of sacred activities, traditional weddings and other events. The story also contains moral messages about loyalty and brotherhood which should be applied in family and social life.
The term "guel" in the local language (Gayo) means 'to sound'. This term is also interpreted as sounding something as a call or invitation.
The white elephant was taken to the middle of the forest and called by ringing objects that were brought into the middle of the forest. Some people think that the guel dance is a ritual as well as a means of casting spells to persuade a white elephant to come out of its hiding place.
During their journey, Sengeda and Bener Meriah were betrayed by their uncle, who assigned his guards to kill the two siblings. Each of them was carried by a different bodyguard. However, only Bener Meriah was killed, while Sengeda was not killed by the guards until he was finally taken to the Gayo area.
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Then on the other hand, a king's daughter who was in Kutaraja (now Banda Aceh) dreamed that the king's daughter met a white elephant. After that, a competition was held by the king. Anyone who gets a white elephant and brings it to Kutaraja will be given a prize.
Sengeda and his entourage finally went to the Bener Meriah area with the group to look for the elephant, bringing a number of equipment such as gongs and others.
He found a white elephant right next to the grave of King Linge's murdered son, Bener Meriah. So it was then thought that the elephant was the incarnation of Bener Meriah. However, the elephant did not want to follow the group. Then Sengeda and his friends looked for a way to get the elephant to go with them.
Finally they found a way, namely by ringing all the equipment they brought so that the elephants followed the group.
Therefore, some forms of dance movements reflect the behavior of elephants and also some reflections of the movements they go through on their journey to find elephants from nature, such as when searching, looking at birds which are often also called kepor nongok movements, sining leeches, or contortions showing the body like a leech.
For accompanying music, small drums and flutes are usually used. However, in the performance at the hotel that I witnessed, the music was only recorded so there was no need for musicians.[]
