KABASARAN DANCE AND CLOTHES

The Kabasaran dance, also known as Kawasaran, represents strength, respect, fear, and power. Dancers perform this dance while carrying weapons like swords or spears, as if preparing for war. The dance is accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums or small gongs, The dancers called kawasaran imitate the movements of two male warriors engaged in combat, similar to the Cakalele dance from Maluku, The term "kawasaran" evolved into "kabasaran," which signifies accompanying and following the dance movements, The dance is led by a war leader known as "sarian," who guides the traditional Minahasan warrior dance, During the performance the dancers simulate sword cuts and spear thrusts in a 4/4 rhythm, displaying fierce expressions and intense focus. The dancers do not sing but face each other while dancing, with partners chosen by themselves, Any injuries that occur are usually due to the dancers' own mistakes, indicating a lack of mastery in the nine sword-cutting moves and nine spear-thrusting moves, Swords are not used for thrusting or parrying, only spears for thrusting and shields for parrying (Welianto, 2021). 

Kawasaran clothes are mainly red and come with meaningful accessories. According to Tonaas (head of the Kabasaran tribe), the red color represents life. The ancestors not only fought in wars, but also protected and defended life, earning them the title of country protectors. The hat is made from the beak of a “taong” bird (hornbill), cow horns, and partridge feathers. It symbolizes the divine realm and serves as a reminder that the world is temporary. It also encourages us to be kind to others and be willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Monkey skulls are worn as necklaces to complete the traditional attire. Tonaas explained that in the past, human skulls were worn as a symbol of strength in war, but now they are replaced with monkey skulls, The weapon accessory called santi, a long sword, represents the separation between good and evil. In addition to swords, shields (kelung) and spears (wengkow) were also used as props (Puspasari, 2023).