Deconstructing the Past in Indonesian Contemporary Dance

Abstract

Contemporary dance in Indonesia was in the encounter between traditional dance and modern dance. Traditional dance in Indonesia could be seen from two forms, namely traditional dance that grew and developed inside the palace walls (classical dance) and traditional dance that grew and developed outside the palace walls (folk dance), while modern dance was a dance that had shown its contact with Western world. Traditional dance was a form of collective expression, while modern dance was a personal expression. It was in this context that Indonesian contemporary dance found its form. Contemporary dance in Indonesia always tried to re-dialogue the forms of dance that had been there before, both traditional and modern to be brought back with a new spirit and values in accordance with the current conditions of society. Deconstruction became a way to re-read dance worked that already exist, to be communicated again with the community today.

Keywords: contemporary dance, deconstruction, tradition, modern.

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/78-02

Publication date: November 30th 2019