Yogyakarta, May 4th 2026 – The Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) Program at the Graduate School (SPs) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), celebrated of World Dance Day, in collaboration with the Ullen Sentalu Museum, held a Talk and Performance event. This academic activity, themed “R.M. Jodjana; Embodied Culture in Motion: Presence as Cultural Ambassadorship,” took place on Wednesday, on April 29th 2026. The prestigious event was conducted in a hybrid format, centered in the exhibition room of the Ullen Sentalu Museum in the Kaliurang area. The event was interactively broadcast via the zoom platform to reach a broader audience from various backgrounds.
The event combined the beauty of artistic performance with sharp academic discourse, and began with great enthusiasm. A representative of the Ullen Sentalu Museum, Mr. Daniel Haryono, opened the activity by giving a warm welcome to all participants. The welcoming remarks were then continued by the Chief of the PSPSR Master Program in SPs UGM, Dr. Rr. Paramitha Dyah Fitriasari, M.Hum. On that occasion, she specifically emphasized the importance of cross-institutional collaboration between education and culture. This synergy is considered highly essential in preserving the public’s collective memory of Indonesian artists whose works have reached a global audience.
The main discussion session was highly dynamic, featuring the Chief of the PSPSR Doctoral Program SPs UGM, Dr. Sri Margana, M.Hum., M.Phil. In his presentation, the historian comprehensively examined the career trajectory and life journey of Raden Mas Jodjana. R.M. He is widely known as a maestro of Javanese dance who became a pioneer of cultural diplomacy in Europe in the early 20th century. By tracing his career records and biographical background, Dr. Margana presented a very rich historical perspective. He clearly demonstrated how R.M. Jodjana utilized dance as an elegant and powerful medium of diplomacy on the international stage.
This academic discussion became even sharper and more substantial with the presence of Dr. G. R. Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A., serving as an expert discussant. The art expert provided profound insights to the participants attending both offline and online. He specifically sparked critical reflection on the concept of the body positioned as a center of archives and cultural data. According to his view within the context of performing arts, a dancer’s body is not merely a mechanical tool for movement. It becomes a living medium that records, stores, and transmits cultural values that can be studied and interpreted by others (embodied culture).
This collaborative World Dance Day celebration is expected to deepen public understanding of the significant contributions made by Indonesian artists on the global stage. This activity simultaneously strengthened the sustainable synergy of university academics and cultural preservation institutions in Yogyakarta. This strategic initiative also represents a concrete step by the UGM Graduate School in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Efforts to expand public access to education based on historical research and art studies perfectly align with the pillars of Quality Education (SDG 4) and the preservation of cultural heritage (SDG 11). All of these noble achievements are tangibly realized by strengthening inclusive partnerships to nurture civilization (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals).
Author: Namira
Editor: Berlian Belasuni