Karya Tari “Limpasan Raso” Interpretasi Makna Air dalam Tradisi Manjujuang Aia pada Konteks Kematian di Nagari Bungo Tanjuang

Abstract

Limpasan Raso is a contemporary dance work inspired by the Manjujuang Aia tradition in the context of death rituals in Nagari Bungo Tanjung, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. This tradition is carried out by women who carry water on their heads to the mourning house for the ritual bathing of the deceased. Beyond its practical function, the tradition embodies symbolic meanings of purification, farewell, empathy, and social solidarity toward bereaved families. This dance work aims to interpret water as a symbol of purification and release through a contemporary dance performance with a cultural theme and an abstract form. The creative process consists of exploration, improvisation, and composition stages. Exploration was conducted through observation of the Manjujuang Aia tradition, literature review, and internalization of the cultural values embedded within the practice. The findings were then developed through movement improvisation and organized into a complete choreographic composition. The work is performed by nine female dancers representing the women of the nagari who participate in the tradition. The performance utilizes a wooden barrel measuring 2 meters in diameter and 90 centimeters in height, along with plastic buckets as symbolic properties representing the Manjujuang Aia tradition. The musical accompaniment uses sequenced music and is presented in an outdoor setting. Everyday makeup and black dresses are used to symbolize simplicity, mourning, and the close connection between the tradition and community life. Through Limpasan Raso, the choreographer expresses the overflow of emotions that emerge in the experience of death, including grief, acceptance, and social support that flow throughout the community. Water is presented as a symbolic medium representing purification, release, and human interconnectedness in confronting loss. This work is expected to serve as a means of appreciating local cultural values while contributing to the preservation of the Manjujuang Aia tradition as an important element of Minangkabau cultural identity.