Tari Piring (Plate Dance) is the art of dance held by the Minangkabau. This dance reflects the life of traditional Minangkabau community at the time of working in the ricefield. The dance expresses happiness of the farmers as well as their thanks to the God for the very successful harvest.
Plate Dance is done in pairs or in groups with a variety of movements that are done quickly, dynamically and interspersed with plate knock sound carried by the dancers. Usually formal occasions conducted in West Sumatra presents Plate Dance. Dance has become very popular dish even in neighboring countries such as Malaysia.
The dance is accompanied by a song that is played with Talempong and Saluang, while the movements are done quickly while holding the plate in the palm of their hand. The dance has a motion that resembles the movement of farmers during cultivation, harvest and so create employment. The dance begins with the initial work in the field and proceeds to the final process until harvested rice (paddy) is taken home. Sometimes these plates they throw into the air or they fling to the ground. At the final stage of the dance is male and young lady dancers will trample broken plates without fear nor wound, trampled on by the dancers are barefoot does not at all hurt. This fact should not interpreted as a magic work, as many people may think, but it religiously signals the acceptance of the dancer’s pray by God.