The Philosophy of the Harvest Dance Movements of Jorong Jopang, Mungka District, Limapuluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra

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Padang— Jorong Jopang Harvest Dance Revitalized Through Arts Education for Young Generation. Community service conducted by Halomoan, Insan Cendikia Persito, Adillah Wazna, Aulia Raudoatul Ais, Rama Dhani, and Gilang Putra Utama from Padang State University, published in January 2026 in the Bestari Community Service Journal (JPMB).

The community service conducted by Halomoan, Insan Cendikia Persito, Adillah Wazna, Aulia Raudoatul Ais, Rama Dhani, and Gilang Putra Utama highlights the philosophical meaning of each dance movement while strengthening cultural preservation through arts education for the younger generation. The results indicate an increased understanding among participants of the philosophy behind the movements of the Harvest Dance, as well as a growing interest among young people in preserving this tradition—an important step toward the sustainability of local cultural identity.

Key Findings

The program produced several significant outcomes:

Improved understanding of movement philosophy among participants, who could articulate the symbolic meaning of each gesture.
Increased interest among youth in learning and performing the Harvest Dance.
Intergenerational dialogue, connecting young participants with customary elders.
Strengthened local cultural identity, reflected in active community participation in training and discussions.

Participants demonstrated more synchronized performances and a clearer awareness of the relationship between movement, music, and spiritual meaning.

Philosophical Meaning of the Movements

Each movement in the Harvest Dance symbolically reflects agrarian life. Harvesting gestures represent gratitude for nature’s bounty, while measured footwork symbolizes caution, balance, and self-control—values aligned with Minangkabau philosophy emphasizing harmony between humans, nature, and God.

Group formations express mutual cooperation (gotong royong), a central principle in Minangkabau society. Some movement sequences imitate farming activities such as sowing seeds, picking rice, carrying crops, and separating grains. These gestures convey messages about order, patience, and social responsibility. Spiritual elements appear through bodily expression synchronized with rhythm, representing collective prayer and gratitude.

Educational and Social Implications

The initiative demonstrates that dance education can effectively transmit cultural values. Integrating the Harvest Dance into arts learning—particularly within Indonesia’s Merdeka Curriculum framework—offers contextual, experience-based education. Students not only imitate movements but also learn the dance’s history, symbolic meanings, and customary values.

Socially, collaboration between customary leaders, teachers, and youth strengthens collective awareness of cultural heritage. The Harvest Dance is increasingly viewed not merely as an old ritual but as a living source of ethical, aesthetic, and spiritual values relevant to modern life.

Author Profiles

· Halomoan, S.Pd., M.Sn. : Universitas Negeri Padang
· Insan Cendikia Persito, M.Pd. : Universitas Negeri Padang
· Adillah Wazna, M.Sn. : Universitas Negeri Padang
· Aulia Raudoatul Ais, S.Pd., M.Pd. :Universitas Negeri Padang
· Rama Dhani, S.Pd : Universitas Negeri Padang
· Gilang Putra Utama, S.Pd. : Universitas Negeri Padang

Sourch

Halomoan, Insan Cendikia Persito, Adillah Wazna, Aulia Raudoatul Ais, Rama Dhani, dan Gilang Putra Utama. “Filosofi Gerakan Tari Panen Khas Jorong Jopang, Kecamatan Mungka, Kabupaten Limapuluh Kota, Sumatra Barat.”

Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB), Vol. 5 No. 1, 2026, hlm. 89–102.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.55927/jpmb.v5i1.597

URL: https://nblformosapublisher.org/index.php/jpmb