Gestures and Their Meanings in the Artistic Movements of Batak Toba Dance

Syamsul Bahri; Elisa Betty Manullang; Femi C.E. Pakpahan; Aqila Adha Br Tanjung; Septian Markus Pasaribu

doi:10.59890/ijatss.v4i7.168

Authors

Syamsul Bahri Universitas Negeri Medan
Elisa Betty Manullang Universitas Negeri Medan
Femi C.E. Pakpahan Universitas Negeri Medan
Aqila Adha Br Tanjung Universitas Negeri Medan
Septian Markus Pasaribu Universitas Negeri Medan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59890/ijatss.v4i7.168

Keywords:

Gestures and Meaning, Artistic Movement, Batak Toba Dance

Abstract

Traditional Batak Toba dance serves as a medium of cultural expression, where gestures and movements convey profound symbolic meanings rooted in social, cultural, and spiritual values. This study aims to explore the semiotic meanings embedded in the gestures of Batak Toba dance, emphasizing their role in cultural preservation and communication. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze the gestures in Batak Toba dance, utilizing a semiotic framework based on Charles Sanders Peirce’s classification of gestures: iconic, deictic, metaphoric, and beat. Data were collected through video analysis of 10 traditional Batak Toba dance performances, focusing on movement patterns and their cultural interpretations. The findings reveal that iconic gestures visually represent cultural narratives, deictic gestures indicate spatial references, metaphoric gestures symbolize abstract concepts, and beat gestures synchronize with musical rhythms. This study highlights the significance of Batak Toba dance as a dynamic form of non-verbal communication, preserving cultural identity while adapting to modern influences. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of traditional dance as an evolving cultural heritage and its role in sustaining Batak Toba traditions in contemporary society

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