Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) supports various efforts to preserve and develop traditional Indonesian culture. One of these efforts appeared at the "Curation of the Wiyata Dance- Di Hanjayeng Bawana as a ceremonial dance at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta" on August 24, 2022, at the Performance Hall UNY Building.
"I appreciate this new dance, and I am very proud because the Wiyata Dance Di Hanjayeng Bawana will be a dance at the graduation ceremony on August 27, 2022," said UNY Chancellor, Prof. Sumaryanto.
Prof. Suminto A. Sayuti, as the initiator of this dance, explained that one of the meanings of this dance is the hope to realize UNY's vision to become an educational university that is competitive, creative, and innovative sustainable. Dr. Kuswarsantyo and Dra. Titik Agustin created a dance that four male and seven female dancers could perform. The male dancer symbolizes strength and implements the philosophy of community life with the Joged Mataram principle. Seven female dancers in Javanese means pitulungan (help). The meaning contained in this whole dance is about the commitment to developing the institution with academic and humanist principles for all at UNY.
Some of the supporting tools for this dance, namely the Trident-Topped Spear for male dancers, symbolize strength to aim at the target. The trident at the end of the spear symbolizes the unification of creativity, taste, and initiative that must be a part of the entire UNY academic community's work as educators, researchers, and community servants. Female dancers who use the Keris symbolize the recognition and ability that has been achieved. While Jebeng, with the background of the UNY symbol (the Kembara statue), constantly reminds the entire UNY academic community to maintain a good name and put forward noble values.
