THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF DANCE MOVEMENTS IN THE BELIAN RITUAL IN NORTH PENAJAM PASER REGENCY: A ROLAND BARTHES SEMIOTIC STUDY

Abstract

The Belian Ritual is a traditional healing ritual practiced by the Paser ethnic community in North Penajam Paser Regency, combining spiritual, social, and cultural elements. One of the main components of this ritual is dance movement, which functions not only as an aesthetic expression but also as a medium of symbolic communication containing the cultural values and beliefs of the community. This study aims to describe the forms of dance movements and analyze the denotative, connotative, and mythical meanings contained in the dance movements of the Belian Ritual based on Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory. This study employed a qualitative approach using a descriptive method. Data were obtained through observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and literature review. The research informants consisted of belian (ritual leaders), traditional leaders, cultural practitioners, and members of the community who support and participate in the Belian Ritual. Data analysis was conducted using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña model and subsequently interpreted through Roland Barthes’ concepts of denotation, connotation, and myth. The results show that the dance movements in the Belian Ritual consist of several main forms that function as a medium for healing, paying respect to ancestors, seeking protection and safety, and maintaining a balanced relationship between humans, nature, and the spiritual realm. At the denotative level, the movements are interpreted as a sequence of bodily movements performed during the ritual procession. At the connotative level, the movements contain symbolic meanings that represent the spiritual and cultural values of the Paser community. At the mythical level, the dance movements construct collective beliefs concerning cosmic harmony, the legitimacy of the belian as a spiritual mediator, and the Belian Ritual as a means of restoring the balance of life. This study demonstrates that Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory is capable of comprehensively revealing the symbolic meanings of dance movements and contributes to the development of performing arts studies and the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage of the Paser ethnic community.