Sampan Dance in Pariaman: Between Creativity and Community Acceptance

Abstract

Sampan dance was born from the Pariaman community. A dance work which is created for entertaining people. Events in Sampan dance are bound to a situation, namely fishermen who are triggered by various events. Attempts to see the human side in the dancers who play the fishermen are a real picture of the actual events. The strength of the dance creator’s/artist's imagination lies in trying to free the work from the reality that is believed by communnity. The community should be amazed when they see the Sampan dance performance, but in reality the they are not enthusiastic about it.The way creator/artists explore fishermen figure by the choreographer is different from the way that is done by the academics. Existing facts about this dance are not the main concern of the artists. The purpose of exploring the life of fishermen is to open the doors of imagination, bring the past back to life and seek their own identity to be aligned with current events. In the function of dance, imagination has an important role. The presence of imagination will change the mindset of the community towards the issues being staged. At least, society has received another choice than the existing before about the meaning of reality.  It means the reality of fishermen's life so that the community is free to act towards these choices.Communication in art is related to human behavior and the fulfillement needs of human thoughts and feelings toward what they witness. The audience/community already brought a horizon of expectations when they watch the performing arts. Thoughts and feelings have formed its frame, so that when what they watch does not match the horizon of their expectations, positive and negative responses will arise.

Keywords: Sampan Dance, Creativity, Community Accepttance, Society, Pariaman

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/103-3

Publication date: January 31^st 2023