tarian

Tarian is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to denote dance or a dance performance. The word is derived from the root tari ('dance') with the noun-forming suffix -an, which turns the concept of dancing into a general label for the activity or its manifestations.

In everyday usage, tarian appears in compounds such as tarian tradisional (traditional dances), tarian rakyat (folk dances), and tarian kontemporer (contemporary dance). It can refer to the art form itself, a particular performance, or a broader repertoire of dances. Dances are central to many cultural practices in Indonesia and Malaysia, accompanying rituals, ceremonies, storytelling, theater, and celebrations. The term is widely used in education, media, and cultural discourse to classify styles, costumes, music, and choreography.

Tarian is closely related to tari, the root meaning "dance," and to penari, meaning dancer. In scholarly and media contexts, tarian often appears in compound descriptors and titles that reference dance traditions or performances. While most common in Southeast Asian contexts, the term is sometimes encountered in international discussions of Indonesian or Malay dance forms.