FIB Unpad and FPSD UPI Collaborate to Study Sundanese Classical Dance
The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, and The Faculty of Art and Design Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, is proud to announce the publication of a collaborative study titled “Sundanese classical dance as a representation of aesthetic values and noble culture in West Java” in Cogent Arts & Humanities Journal (Vol. 12, No. 1, 2025). The article, authored by Sabaria & Juju Masunah (FPSD Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia) and Cece Sobarna & Teddi Muhtadin (FIB Universitas Padjadjaran).
This study uncovers the profound cultural values embedded in Sundanese classical dance. Developed within the noble environment of West Java, these dances are more than just performances; they are a living reflection of Sundanese society’s historical background, ethics, and social system. The research specifically analyzes the Keurseus Dance for male dancers and the Sulintang Dance for female dancers to reveal these deeper meanings.
Using a qualitative approach with ethnographic methods, the study found that the aesthetic, ethical, and cultural values are represented through the dancers’ movements, makeup, and costumes. The movements, characterized by their subtlety, politeness, and order, reflect the valued social behaviors of the Sundanese people. This is how the dance acts as a mirror of society.
The research also found that the dance embodies a patriarchal social system, while the identity of the Sundanese nobility is expressed through their traditional makeup and attire. Beyond mere aesthetics, the dance expresses noble values like discipline, patience, and responsibility, which serve as a guide for the dancers’ daily lives.
FIB Unpad and FPSD UPI study’s findings have profound implications for the intergenerational transmission of Sundanese culture. It provides a framework for understanding the core values that can be passed down, thereby preserving the dance as a crucial element of cultural identity that bridges the past and the future.
Ahmad Ilham Danial
