Piriang dancers are some of the most talented performers I have personally had the pleasure of watching, as they move and grip and dance with plates in each hands in graceful moments that seem to make the plates and bowls defy gravity. What's more, at the end of each piriang dance, the dancers break each plate, gather them over a rug, and begin dancing and smashing the plates pieces by stomping on them with their feet (all while wearing a confident smile!). While the dancing is commonly practiced by kids, one leaves the stomping to the professionals.
The community has this tradition because it is closely tied to a culture of ancient kingdoms in which royalty entertained their guests with welcome dances and storytelling. The stories functioned as a way to recall old naratives, whether fiction or fact, that fill the guest with drama, morality and most importantly, amazement from the show. Today, there are professional Randai theatres and as impressive extracurricular school theatre groups that host day long performances featuring actors, stories, and dancing from the groups that participate. While tourism encourages the practice of Randai, I believe that the close association many of the actors, students, and spectators feel to the culture of their ancestors really makes Randai a very respectable and honorable hobby/lifestyle. Taru Psambahan is also a very special welcome dance where the dancers offer the audieance very special leaves that are said to preserve youth.
