Tari Piring (Plate Dance) of the Minangkabau

Bukittinggi, Western Sumatra

In the City of Bukittinggi of Western Sumatra I was fortunate to see the curious plate dance called tari piring («piring» means «plate»). The dance has ancient roots. It is believed to have originated among the Minangkabau at the time of the Srivijaya empire (between the 7th and the 13th centuries). In the past the dance was a ritual performed to express gratitude to the gods for an abundant harvest and the wellbeing of the community. Today it is one of the forms of entertainment during holidays, weddings, and other important events.

The dancers perform in typical Minangkabau holiday clothes sewn from beautiful silk fabrics. Yellows and reds predominate. Both women and men wear sarongs or pants, and remove their shoes during the performance. As far as accessories, as is evident from the name of the dance, the actors dance with plates, which they hold in both hands. 

At the end of their emotional performance they often break the plates, entranced, and continue dancing on shards without cutting the soles of their feet.