Magasa Dance, also called Snake Dance, is an infamous traditional dance of the Arfak people. Usually, when visitors come to the tribe, they will be welcomed with this dance. Those who have visited the place say that it is one of the charms of West Papua. It is not only historically tied to the people but also has a special meaning.
The Origin of Magasa Dance
The dance was invented a long time ago among Arfak people. The inventor himself is unknown, it is likely that the dance was invented by the entire community. Arfak people are natives to the Arfak Mountains in Manokwari. Thus, the movements in the dance reflect the people’s culture.
Magasa is an expression of joyfulness for the Arfak people. People will perform this dance in various celebrations, including wedding and tribe events. This dance is able to lift up the atmosphere in any celebration.
Characteristics of the Traditional Dance
There are some characteristics that make Magasa distinguishable from dances of other tribes from West Papua, such as:
1. The people
This dance involves a large number of people to strengthen the merry atmosphere. Gender of the dancer does not matter in this dance performance. It usually includes both male and female dancers. There is also no specific requirement related to age and social status when it comes to dancing Magasa.
2. The formation
People call it Snake Dance because the formation is very dynamic, like the snake movement. The dancers may form a circle or a curve, but the link between them should never be broken. In the arrangement, male and female dancers stand alternatively while holding each other’s hands.
3. The simple movements
The movements in Magasa are actually pretty simple. Mostly, the dance consists of jumping from one side to another in a uniform manner. Despite looking simple, since there are many dancers in one group, it would be difficult to do such synchronized movements.
4. The unique costume
Male and female dancers wear different costumes. The male Magasa dancers usually wear a simple loincloth. On their heads, they will wear feathers from the Paradise bird or the Cassowary. They also bring their traditional weapons while dancing.
Meanwhile, the female dancers wear a more moderate costume. A female Magasa dancer wears a traditional sarong that covers her body from her chest to the mid-calf. The head would be adorned by beautiful, endemic flowers.
5. No accompanying music
Interestingly, there are no musical instruments involved in Magasa performance. It only utilizes the song sung by dancers and other people in the celebration. This is unlike other dance performances in the region.
The Symbol of Peacefulness
To the people of the Arfak Tribe in West Papua, Magasa symbolizes peacefulness. It is certainly a non-discriminative dance as everyone, regardless of their age, gender, and even social status, can join it. This characteristic shows how these people accept everyone with open arms.
When looking closely at the dance movements, “harmony” will be the first word that comes to mind. The movements are not difficult as the dance mostly consists of jumping and moving from side to side. However, the dancers are performing those movements without bumping into each other.
In order to achieve such harmonious group movement, everyone must be in tune with the movements of others. Each person should not move on their own accord. Instead, they must pay attention to the cues from others. This condition shows how unity is important to Arfak people despite their diverse community.No wonder that this dance is often performed for visitors in West Papua. It represents the best of its people: peaceful and welcoming. Magasa is able to bring a smile to everyone who watches it being performed.
