by: Mairead Kennedy
Deciding to enroll in a course about Indonesian cultural dance was very much out of my comfort zone. However, I am thrilled with the decision that I made to be a part of the course, as I have not only learned dance techniques, but also developed a deeper understanding for how culture is reflected in dance. I now understand the significant role of dance in Java, and how a person of this particular culture is expected to present themselves. Furthermore, I have started to comprehend how these concepts are woven together. The court dances that take place in central Java are an enormous part of the lives of Javanese people. What I have found to be so interesting is the fact that one cannot truly be considered Javanese until they have indulged in the court dance itself, as the dance fosters a greater sense of self awareness that is essential to being a part of this culture.
Javanese children begin taking these dance classes when they are as young as five years old. Before this, “children under the age of five, a foreigner, or an insane person, are all considered ‘not yet’ Javanese (dhurung Jawa)” (Felicia Hughes-Freeland, 81). I find this strange, yet interesting: that someone can be born into this culture, but not be technically considered a part of it until they partake in the dance tradition. Through dancing, the Javanese children are able to become alus, which “is a term of approval as ubiquitous in Java as ‘nice’ is in England” (Felicia Hughes-Freeland, 82). This speaks to the importance of the dance in their culture as a whole, along with their life values as well. As dance is seen as a hobby or talent in the society that I live in, it is seen as a very important part of education in Java. One can truly see and understand Javanese culture solely by taking in the ways of their traditional dance and this draws attention to just how necessary it is.
It is clear that there is a lot of reasoning behind this idea that one is not Javanese until they have learned the dance traditions. The dancing is not just an activity to them, but it actually speaks a lot to their character and how they want to be viewed in society. It has even been said that if a child is reckless and not respectful, that they should enroll in a dance class. It is easy for a person to become much more affluent and respectable through Javanese dance. In many ways, it is similar to meditation, wherein the dancer achieves a deeper alignment with their spiritual self through movement, focus, and breathing. The dance is done slowly and with strong, precise movements. In order to do the dance well, the performers must go beyond their physical movements and become connected to their higher selves. Due to this spiritual connection, a good Javanese court dancer is more likely a very respected person, making it almost essential to learn the dance in order to be Javanese.
It is also important to note that there are certain attributes to a person in Java that are considered refined and rather coarse. Much different from the society that I have always been surrounded by, the Javanese are expected to not show their inner emotions to the people around them. This can be seen through the ways that the dances are performed in their culture. One specific part of Javanese dance that is notable is that their faces have “a calm exterior with a pleasant smile and expression that projects a feeling of well-being, an inner feeling of comfort and balance” (Miriam Morrison, 33). The performers hold soft smiles on their faces, no matter what the scene of the movements is indicating. Even if it is during a dance that portrays a battle, with death and defeat, the dancers on both sides will hold a completely still facial expression. This varies greatly from the dance that I have watched and taken part in throughout my own life. I have always been told that to be a good dancer, I must tell a story with my facial expressions. If the dance that is being performed is supposed to be dramatic and sad, then this would imply that a distraught face should be held throughout the moves. Passion is always shown in a great performer’s expression in the dances that I have been exposed to. For this reason, I found it so intriguing that the dancers in Java would do the exact opposite. This makes the dance so uniquely beautiful as well.
When we take into account the aspects of this dance that are most specific to Javanese court dance, it is made clear that they have specific values and beliefs that are a large part of their culture. Just watching the technique of the court dance alone can convey the importance of how one should hold themselves in a societal setting. To be respected in this culture, one must be seen as having poise and elegance in their daily life. Having discipline is a part of their culture that is well-reflected in the way that they dance and play their music. Obviously, while practicing, dancers will bump into each other and make mistakes. However, it is clear that their performances are done perfectly on beat and mistakes are never shown. This is due to the discipline that they have surrounding not only their dance technique, but their entire personas in general. It is important for them not to give into the desires that they have in their minds, and to focus on more important aspects of life that will bring them success and respect.
Being able to see a culture reflected in a dance is something that I had also never put much thought into. After observing many different dances and even taking the chance to learn it myself, I was able to understand the culture very deeply. I believe that if I had just tried to read about the culture and history of Java, I would not have as great an understanding as I do after emerging myself into the traditional dance. It can be understood through their technique that the dance is much more of a spiritual connection than a way of telling a story through movement. Motions are slow and controlled with a lot of poise, specifically in the female dances, which reflects the way that Javanese people want to be viewed in their life.
