The Pejuang Dance by S. Ngaliman Condropangrawit as a Representation of the Traditional War Strategy and State Defense of the Indonesian People

Abstract

The wars that have occurred in Indonesia since the arrival of the Portuguese in 1912 in Malacca have carved out a long history of seizing the independence which was declared on August 17, 1945, from the hands of the colonialists. This cannot be separated from the struggle of the fighters throughout the country, including women. The struggle is then retold through the art of folk dance, which is usually performed when people gather. The Pejuang Dance or Fighters Dance is one of Supadi Ngalimat Condropangrawit’s masterpieces that depicts the resistance of the Indonesian people, where not only men but women also play a direct role. The research method used is a qualitative method with literature studies and direct interviews with a dance educator from the State University of Semarang, Indonesia. As a result, dynamic and rhythmic dance movements liven up the atmosphere that took place during the struggle, there were training movements to play weapons, practice archery or known as gandhewa and form defensive fortifications. The movements in the Pejuang dance are a picture of traditional war strategies like a guerrilla and the high spirit of defending the country against the sovereignty of the Indonesian nation.