“YADMA”: A DRAMATIC DANCE WORK BASED ON THE YADNYA KASADA RITUAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALANGAN DANCE STYLE

“YADMA”: SEBUAH KARYA TARI DRAMATIS BERDASARKAN RITUAL YADNYA KASADA DALAM PERKEMBANGAN GAYA TARI MALANGAN

Abstract

YADMA is a dramatic dance piece inspired by the ritual offering traditions of the Tengger people during the Yadnya Kasada ceremony. The work highlights the significance of sacrifice, sincerity, and gratitude—values ​​passed down through generations within the Tengger community. Through a dramatic approach, the piece seeks to portray the inner human journey toward understanding the meaning of devotion to God, fellow human beings, and the universe. The creative process involved stages of exploration, improvisation, and movement composition, drawing upon observations of Tengger life, literature reviews, and the creator's own creative interpretation. Elements such as movement, space, time, energy, music, makeup, costumes, and props are integrated into a cohesive performance designed to evoke a dramatic atmosphere aligned with the work's theme. YADMA is performed by four dancers who embody the Tengger community's values, ranging from the awareness of sacrifice and gratitude to the attainment of life's balance. Through symbolic movement and the dramatization of events, the piece offers not only aesthetic appeal but also a medium for reflecting on the importance of maintaining harmony among humanity, nature, and the Divine. Ultimately, YADMA aims to serve as a vehicle for preserving cultural values ​​while broadening public understanding of the local wisdom inherent in the Yadnya Kasada tradition. The resulting work demonstrates how the values ​​of sacrifice, gratitude, and balance are expressed through a synthesis of symbolic movement, dramatic staging, and the representation of the five guiding principles of Tengger life.