Cultural Values in Motion: A Semiotic Interpretation of Joget Serampang Laut

Abstract

Joget Serampang Laut is a Malay folk dance that reflects both aesthetic form and cultural philosophy, serving as an important vehicle of identity and tradition. While earlier scholarship has examined its history and music, little attention has been given to the cultural meanings embedded in its 14 ragam. This study addresses that gap by analysing how these ragam operate as semiotic signs that embody the values of Islam, adat, and adab, thereby revealing their role as expressions of Malay philosophy. A qualitative interpretive design was employed, drawing on video recordings, direct observation, and practitioner interviews, with findings triangulated against published sources. The movements were visually transcribed and examined through a semiotic framework of representation, denotation, and connotation, with validation provided through expert review. The analysis identifies two thematic strands: ragam of human relationships, which emphasise modesty, respect, and unity, and ragam of nature and symbolism, which articulate resilience, guardianship, companionship, and courage. Together, these themes demonstrate that Joget Serampang Laut is not merely entertainment but a living text of Malay values where gestures, pathways, and choreographic motifs transmit cultural memory and ethical principles. The study concludes that semiotic analysis enriches the understanding of this dance while also offering broader implications for pedagogy, heritage preservation, and future research. For teaching, the findings suggest the importance of integrating cultural philosophy into dance training. For heritage work, the study provides a framework for meaningful documentation of intangible culture. For research, it opens pathways to apply similar approaches across other Malay and Southeast Asian dances.