Tortor

Tortor (Batak: ᯖᯬᯒ᯲ᯖᯬᯒ᯲) is a traditional Batak dance originating from North Sumatra, Indonesia. This dance was originally a ritual and sacred dance performed at funerals, healing ceremonies, and other traditional Batak ceremonies. For the Batak people, tortor dance has both cultural and spiritual values. Through this dance, people express their hopes and prayers. Demonstrations of attitudes and feelings through this dance describe the situation and conditions that are being experienced. Tortor performances always have a situational nature which is reflected in the type of tor-tor displayed, such as Tortor Sombasomba (worship), Tortor Simonangmonang (victory), or Tortor Habonaran (truth). The tortor dance is played to the accompaniment of gondang musical instruments. The word "tortor" comes from the sound of the dancers stomping their feet while performing on the board of a Batak traditional house.