In search of a means to express cultural identity in contemporary Indonesian dance

This article focuses on the artists’ search for identity in contemporary Indonesian dance. “Identity” in this article refers to the essential characteristics of Indonesia, termed “Indonesianness” (keindonesiaan). In addition to various traditional dance forms, such as Javanese court dances and Balinese religious offering dances, there are many other dance forms in Indonesia including experimental works. These experimental works are usually called, kontemporer, which translates to “contemporary.” Although contemporary Indonesian dance is defined as an innovative and experimental genre, it is considered to have a relationship with elements of traditional Indonesan dance. Indonesian dancers and dance researchers point out that the creative activities in contemporary dance forms in Indonesia differ from those in contemporary western dances because the former cannot be freed from the elements of the country’s abundant traditional cultural heritage (Supriyanto et al. 2014: 337). This article traces the development of contemporary Indonesian dance through the description on the accomplishments of four representative dancers by discussing the Indonesian characteristics in their creative endeavors. The article emphasizes a change in the typical model of “tradition vs. modern” or “local culture vs. western culture,” which has been referred to in previous research concerning Southeast Asian culture including Indonesian culture. Furthermore, the article suggests that the dissemination of artistic activities is changing. Under Suharto’s Indonesia (1966-1998), artistic activities were connected to the discourses of national identity. Many artists during this time would attempt to create something new by integrating traditional elements with the western concept of art and techniques derived from western art creation. Young artists born after the 1970s, however, do not necessarily promote the construction of national culture in their creative pursuits. The cultural experiences of these artists differ according to their region and generation, so they search for characteristic elements of Indonesia that are based on their individual cultural experiences. Some of these creative works are beginning to be disseminated globally through the internet and television, and in this context, some contemporary dances in Indonesia may be categorized as a popular cultural genre because of the manner in which the materials are disseminated and consumed