The Strategy To Conserve Traditional Dance In Modern Era

By: Rita Sudiarti

The reason I discuss this topic first because I really and really love dancing, especially traditional dance, because I also have danced for one year especially traditional Dayaknese dance. 

In this modern era many people prefer TikTok and K-pop dances, I think maybe because hobby or social media trend . But very few people who are interested in cultural heritage that is traditional dance.

Probably because the dance is considered old fashioned not trendy for modern era, that is true. Not only in cities but also in countrysides, for example in my area, Sadaniang very few of the youths who want to conserve traditional dance, but they know enough the basics in the dance, because they often see the traditional dances performed in their areas.

Because of the lack of awareness among young people and all levels of society today in preserving traditional dance, I'm making strategies to preserve traditional dance.

1. Use social media

Using social media like Tik tok, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. And I think with social media can also really help both not only youths but everyone who want to study traditional dance without following courses or company without spending a lot of money, only by accessing videos posted on social media.

It's not just because of that maybe there are some people who are interested in traditional dance but the obstacle is that they feel lazy or don't have free time at the moment maybe because of work, school and other things. So with that social media can greatly help them to be able to practice at leisure time. With that they are already practicipating and taking part in preservering traditional dance.

Besides that with social media it can also reach viewers from foreign countries which means that through social media we can also introduce and promote traditional dance to the wider community both domestically and abroad. Social media can also greatly help someone to find information related to traditional dance events or competitions held by the government, an organization, and others, just by searching for the information through social media.

Therefore I think social media can be very beneficial not only for promoting traditional dance but also greatly help it's users to find events or competitions related to the traditional dance he wants to find. So I think my first strategy to preserve traditional dance in the modern era by using social media is very appropriate.

2. Open traditional dance lessons or studios in big cities

The reason I want to open a studio in a big city is because in urban areas themselves it's definitely very rare to see traditional dance performances except when there are certain events so it's difficult for them to know the basics of traditional dance, maybe some people know but not many. That's why I want to open a studio in a big city so they can more easily learn traditional dance with the studio that i've created I also want not only people from the region or rural areas of Indonesia to know or preserve the traditional dance but all Indonesian citizens.

3. Hold traditional dance events or competitions

To start, you don't need to do something big, start small, the important thing is that the competition can attract many enthusiasts and make people want to continue practicing so that their traditional dance skills can be continuously trained and maintained. Because with competitions, they are motivated to continue practicing and learning new movements that are adjusted to the theme of the competition, for example, some only learn traditional Javanese, Balinese, and other dances because of the theme set by the competition organizers.

I think with this competition, they can learn dances from various regions, not just one traditional dance.

Therefore, with this theme and strategy, I hope I can smoothly carry out my dream to introduce and preserve traditional dance to all levels of society in Indonesia.