16

AESTHETICS OF PRAJURITAN  DANCE
IN SEMARANG REGENCY

Muhammad Jazuli
Semarang State University, Sekaran Gunungpati, Semarang 50229, Indonesia 

E-mail: muhjaz61@gmail.com 

Received: April 22, 2015. Revised: May 5, 2015. Accepted: June 13, 2015

Abstract

The scarcity of aesthetic study of traditional arts has evoked my intention to promote a model 
of aesthetic study in dance performance. The focus of this research is the aesthetics of Prajuritan 
dance in Semarang  regency. The aesthetics were founded on dance choreography and cultural 
value systems, which grow and develop in the community of Semarang regency. Dances cho-
reography includes dance background, form, shape, theme, number and formation of dancers, 
moves, musical accompaniment, make-up and costume, and dance floor patterns. Cultural value 
systems include communicating stories, expressed symbols, function and meaning of Prajuritan 
dance for its supporting community. The stories were derived from the heroic tale of Prince Sam-
bernyawa (KGPAA, king Mangkunegara I in Mangkunagaran royal palace, Surakarta) when he 
rebelled against the arbitrary Dutch colonialists, with his famous spell, “tiji tibeh (mukti siji mukti 
kabeh – being prosperous for one and all)” and Three Dharma of soldiers, namely “rumangsa melu 
handarbeni, melu hangrungkebi, mulat sarisa hangrasa wani, which means having sense of belonging, 
protection, and awareness to bravely do whatever to defend  his nation and country. Therefore, 
Prajuritan dance brings the mission to evoke sense of courage, discipline, and responsibility for 
the young generation.    

Keywords: Prajuritan dance; choreography; cultural value systems

How to Cite: Jazuli, M. (2015). Aesthetics of Prajuritan Dance in Semarang Regency. Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research And 
Education, 15(1), 16-24. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.15294/harmonia.v15i1.3692

HARMONIA : Journal of Arts Research and Education 15 (1) (2015), 16-24
Available online at http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/harmonia
DOI: 10.15294/harmonia.v15i1.3692

p-ISSN 1411-5115
e-ISSN 2355-3820

culture, and community of a country (Ja-
zuli, 2001, p. 24). The views of Kaeppler 
and Lomax show that cultural value con-
text is interrelated with one understanding 
of a work of art. 

The object of this research is a tra-
ditional Javanese Prajuritan dance in Se-
marang regency. Prajuritan dance is a 
traditional folk art, which grows and de-
velops and becomes a part of social life in 
Semarang regency; it is an inherited an-
cestral art, which has been bequeathed for 
generations. Since 1995, Prajuritan dance 
has been publicized as a typical dance of 
Semarang regency, and by dint of Sema-
rang regent, Mr. Hartomo’s instruction, 

INTRODUCTION

This research was triggered by my 
intention to promote a model of aesthetic 
study in dance performance. An aesthe-
tic study can be traced through aesthetic 
views of its artist, doer, and observer. The 
goal of aesthetic view is to understand and 
conduct an evaluation of dance being ob-
served. Kaeppler (1992) stated that to be 
able to understand a dance, one needs the 
cultural background of the dance since a 
dance is a cultural product and creative 
process of its community. Alan Lomax in 
his experiment called Choreomatrics pro-
ved that art style is determined by honour, 



Muhammad Jazuli, Aesthetics of Prajuritan Dance in Semarang Regency 17

Prajuritan dance was established as a lo-
cal content-based subject  in elementary 
schools with the purpose of promoting 
nation’s cultural values (Ratih, 2004). Pra-
juritan dance has typical features in its per-
formance, such as showing character and 
personality of its supporting community. 
The moves  are characterized with moves 
of  feet, hands, and head performed in vi-
gorous, splintery, and energetic ways. The 
aesthetic values of the Prajuritan dance 
appear in the harmony between violence 
and mild elements, which are expressed 
aesthetically in its moves (Sujendro, 2002,  
p. 15). Considering that reason, this paper 
is meant to discuss how the aesthetics of 
Prajuritan dance are implemented in Se-
marang regency. 

Aesthetics is a study dealing with 
things related to beauty. In dance arts, 
John Martin explained that all dancing mo-
tions that give an inward satisfaction is re-
garded beautiful. The motions, including 
smooth, tender, rough, violent, powerful, 
and bizarre can be beautiful ones (Soedar-
sono, 1987: 6). According to Parker (1980), 
beauty is an appealing, touching, and thril-
ling thing as it is valuable for anyone.

Aesthetics in this paper is understood 
as a pleasant, appealing, touching/thril-
ling, and it gives an inward satisfaction. In 
aesthetics, there are two aspects that can be 
used to appreciate a work of art, namely 
scientific aspect and philosophical aspect 
(Djelantik, 1992: 9-11). This writing uses 
scientific aspect, which consists of unity, 
intensity, and harmony as perspectives of 
aesthetic study of Prajuritan dance. Unity 
or integrity refers to a whole thing, a mea-
ningful relationship, significant among 
all elements; it means that one element 
complementary needs another element. 
Intensity means that a work of art directs 
people’s attention to focus their view on 
something important than another. Har-
mony is achieved through symmetry and 
asymmetry; both indicate a complexi-
ty. Symmetry is a harmony of two equal 
parts, like human’s body split into two 
or butterfly’s wings. Symmetric harmony 
gives a relief and it looks stable; whereas, 

asymmetric harmony gives a dynamic, 
moving, and versatile senses.

Choreography is understood as kno-
wledge about dance composition and for 
naming dance arrangement. Dance creator 
or arranger is called a choreographer. Dan-
ce choreographer can be reviewed in terms 
of performance pattern, theme, number of 
dancers, moves pattern, and dance floor 
pattern.

In terms of its performance pattern, 
there are two kinds of dance: traditional 
and creative dance. Traditional dance is 
a dance, which grows and develops in a 
community and that it is then bequeathed 
continuously for generations (Jazuli, 2008). 
In view of the number of dancers, dance 
performance can be categorized into two, 
mono and group dance. Mono dance is a 
dance, which is performed by a dancer, 
though it is often performed in groups or 
by more than one dancer. Group dance is a 
dance performed by more than one dancer. 
Group dance can be divided into three: pai-
red dance, mass dance, and dance drama. 
In terms of dance theme, it can be categori-
zed into three, namely pantomime, dance, 
erotic dance, and heroism dance. In view 
of its moves style, it is distinguished into 
two, meaningful motion and pure motion. 
Meaningful motion is a motion with certain 
purposes; whereas, pure motion is a moti-
on for artistic purposes. In view of dance 
floor pattern, there are linear and curved 
patterns. Both floor lines are passed by or 
made by the dancers. From the two lines, 
one can vary other lines, such as zig-zag, 
diagonal, circular ones, etc. Usually befo-
re a work is realized, a choreographer will 
share some reflection and experience about 
himself/herself  or his/her surroundings. 
Nevertheless, a dance choreography will 
find its whole performance and meaning 
when it is supported with complementary 
elements of dances. Among the elements 
are musical accompaniment, theme, cos-
tume, make-up, stage, lighting and sound 
effects. The presence of these elements will 
enable various relations in a dance, such as 
the dynamic aspect (velocity, complexity, 
strength), dances hip aspect (number and 



HARMONIA : Journal of Arts Research and Education 15 (1) (2015): 16-2418

sex of dancers), visual aspect (setting, pro-
perty), and environmental aspect (music, 
lighting, and sound effects) (Jazuli, 2008).

Each dance form will be bound up 
with a cultural value system of a com-
munity that produces the dance. Cultural 
values have always influenced the most 
typical dance form and style of the com-
munity (Jazuli, 2001). Behind all the form 
and style is a cultural value system, or a 
number of concepts about what live in the 
minds of most community members about 
what they consider valuable, meaningful, 
influential in their lives (Koentjaranin-
grat, 1980: 204). The cultural value system 
can function as a guideline that gives di-
rections and orientation in the respective 
social life. Cultural value system in dan-
ce includes dance essence, source of idea, 
symbols, and functions that are expressed 
in dance performance.

Understanding aesthetic values of a 
dance is not apart from the cultural pat-
tern of community from where the dance 
is derived, grows and develops. Evaluati-
on towards Javanese dance in particular 
and other dances in Indonesia in general 
uses criteria, namely wiraga, wirama, wirasa 
(Jazuli, 2008).

Wiraga is a way of evaluating a tan-
gible and  perceivable dance form (physi-
cal) performed by the dancers. For examp-
le, how pose and form of movies, and 
chronology of movements and continuity 
between the movies,  and so on. 

Wirama intended to assess the abili-
ty of the dancer in mastering the rhythm, 
both the rhythm of music accompani-
ment and rhythm of moves performed by 
the dancers. For example, a dancer has to 
understand when a proper move to the 
sound of gong instruments, kenong, kem-
pul, and when the moves should be ap-
propriate and not in accordance with the 
rhythm of the accompaniment. Wirasa are 
all wirama activities and its implementati-
on should always be associated with the 
meaning, intent, and purpose of the dance. 
To achieve this it need a good appreciation 
of the dancer, as appreciation toward the 
role of the character presented, the type 

and character of the moves  to be carried, 
the expression should be raised. Any ap-
preciation always involves a sense though. 
In this case the role of feelings should be in 
one match with wiraga and wirama so that 
produce  harmony between the presentati-
on, matters relating dance skills, and dan-
ce quality.

Rationale of functional  is society is  
a social system consisting of the parts or 
elements that are interconnected and in-
terdependent in the balance. The assump-
tion is that the society  is seen as a system 
like organisms formed from the basis for 
self regulated, self-maintaining, towards 
equilibrium, homeostasis. The purpose of 
system establishing is to maintain normal 
conditions, not pathological in the balan-
ce system. Statements of functional theory 
are used for analyses  with a lower Prajuri-
tan dance by  identifying  the word ‘com-
munity’ with ‘Prajuritan dance forms’ as a 
system.

Prajuritan dance as a form of artwork 
system denotes medium of content pou-
ring and values (life experience) that can 
be observed by the senses. The content and 
value encompass dance values, a source of 
ideas, symbolic systems, and functions of 
dance. In the choreography of Prajuritan 
dance encompasses forms of presentation, 
theme, number of dancers, moves, pat-
terns, the floor pattern, and the dance per-
formance  equipment. Both of them will be 
studied with the theory of functional and 
aesthetic theory consisting of aspects of 
wholeness, the  dominance, and balance.

Starting from the aforementioned 
concepts, the strategy of aesthetic study of 
Prajuritan dance is to locate two compo-
nents, namely the knowledge about a va-
lue system and dance choreography. The 
frame of thinking can be described as fol-
lows Figure 1.

METHOD

This research uses a descriptive qua-
litative method, with the purpose of desc-
ribing and explaining a situation as it really 
is. The location of the research is a Getasan 



Muhammad Jazuli, Aesthetics of Prajuritan Dance in Semarang Regency 19

district of Semarang regency. Getasan is a 
district, which has intensively conducted 
Prajuritan dance performance and regene-
rative acts of the dance up to this present. 

The collection of research data uses 
the observation method, interview, and 
document analysis. Observation was done 
in a direct and planned way towards the 
Prajuritan dance to obtain a rigorous view 
about roles in the dance, moves pattern, 
dance floor pattern, make-up and costume. 

The interview was done directly 
toward informant, Mr. Salerno as dance 
instructor/trainer, Mr. Suroyo and Ms. 
Sugiyati as dancers. Documentation was 
conducted by examining documents about 
Prajuritan dance. The documents obtained 
in the field include articles, photos, and 
news.

To obtain a valid and accountable 
data, I did an evaluation of field data va-
lidity, namely triangulation of source and 
method. Techniques of data analysis are 
descriptive and content analyses. Meanw-
hile, the steps of analysis refer to Miles’ 
and Huberman’s theory (1994) by means 

of data reduction, data presentation, and 
conclusion drawing processes.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION 

Choreography of Prajuritan Dance
Choreography of Prajuritan dance 

covered includes dance background, form 
and meaning of dance symbols, theme, 
number and formation of dancers, moves, 
musical accompaniment, and dance floor 
pattern.

Background of Prajuritan Dance
According to oral tradition develo-

ped in Semarang regency, Prajuritan dan-
ce previously grew and developed in Ge-
tasan district. This dance shows the strides 
of soldiers of Prince Sambernyawa (king 
KPAA Mangkunagara I in Mangkunaga-
ran royal palace, Surakarta) in performing 
duty and responsibility as soldiers against 
the Dutch colonialists. At that time (1755), 
the charismatic heroes rebelled and fought 
against the Dutch colonies. The prince’s 
rebel perturbed and caused the Dutch 

Notes:
Choreography inside the dance encompasses means of performance, theme, number of dancers, 
moves pattern, dance floor pattern, and dance properties; whereas, value symbols include the 
essence of dance, source of idea, meaning and function of dance. Both of them will be analysed 
in terms of functional and aesthetic theories.

Figure 1. Thinking of Aestheties of Prajuritan Dance



HARMONIA : Journal of Arts Research and Education 15 (1) (2015): 16-2420

more Prajuritan dancers have to go to war 
by carrying swords and armours. The main 
task of the soldier is to be always ready for 
making war and protecting Prince Sam-
bernyawa. Soldiers are symbols of kawula 
cilik (common folks) who are loyal to their 
leader and dare to die; (d) two dancers of 
Pekathik as tricksters with comic and farci-
cal expressions and gestures. Their perfor-
mance sometimes wears masks and comic 
make-up representing symbolization of a 
detective role whose tasks are to monitor 
and analysis their enemies’ strength; (e) 
four as Pradangga (musicians) whose task 
is to accompany Prajuritan dance. Pra-
dangga is a masquerade symbolization of 
the tough and loyal soldiers who are ready 
to disclose important information and rea-
dy to war for defending their mother land.

Themes
The Prajuritan dance theme is the 

heroic story of the struggle sourcing  from 
Prince Sambernyawa as described above. 
Sambernyawa, the charismatic  fighter,  
has famous advice (sesanti) in the struggle, 
namely  “tiji tibeh”  (noble one means for 
the glory of all) and the soldiers’ Tridhar-
ma  (three duties)  rumagsa melu handarbe-
ni, melu hangrungkebi, mulat sarisa hangrasa 
wani,  meaning  feeling belonging, sense of 
protecting and knowingly dare do anyt-
hing to defend their homeland. Therefore, 
the theme of Prajuritan dance  brings mis-
sion meaning loyalty, responsibility, cou-
rage, and love of country.

Number of Dancers
Choreography of Prajuritan dance 

is  classified  as group dance  performed 
by 25 to 30 dancers done in the open field. 
In its development, the number of dancers 
can be minimized from 10 to 15 or 4 to 6 
dancers in accordance with the needs and 
forms of stage performances. Details of the 
25 dancers are one Manggalayuda dancer, 
two Wirapati dancers,  sixteen or more 
soldier dancers,  two Pekathik dancers, 
plus four people as Pradangga (musician). 
Thus, the number of players are tewenty 
five,  namely  twenty one dancers and four 

to go through a great loss. Therefore, to 
avoid a greater loss, the Dutch agreed to 
cease the war. The agreement between 
the Dutch and Prince Sambernyawa took 
place at Salatiga. Nevertheless, to antici-
pate any trickery that the Dutch often did 
in each agreement with the rebels, seve-
ral tough and loyal soldiers of the prince 
were assembled to guard the agreement. 
The duty of the soldiers was to guard the 
security and safety of the leaders (Prince 
Sambernyawa and his attendants) in the 
process of agreement. Some other soldiers 
made a temporary base camp in a Getasan 
area with a cautious manner in case of un-
desirable events. The soldiers’ watchful-
ness was manifested in a Prajuritan title 
to show their warring vigilance as well as 
their show of force to their enemies. This 
was what became a beckoning amuse-
ment for people at Getasan and those from 
nearby areas. People at Getasan were very 
enthusiastic about observing each move 
of the soldiers, even more so mimicking 
their moves. The people’s great interest in 
the soldiers inspired them to eternalize the 
soldiers’ moves as a monument in the form 
of Prajuritan dance. 

Form and Symbolic Meaning of Prajuri-
tan Dance

Prajuritan dance is a dance, which 
has simple features as it looks in its mo-
ves, make-up, costume, dance floor pat-
tern, and musical accompaniment. Those 
aspects are presented through the whole 
performance of wiraga, wirama, and wirasa 
so that it looks harmonious in its perfor-
mance.

In Prajuritan dance there are cha-
racters with certain roles, including: (a) a 
Manggalayuda dancer who roles as a chief 
of war. The symbolic meaning of this role 
is to describe a leader who could protect, 
rule, guide his attendants and show good 
manners; (b) two dancers of Wirapati play 
roles as dexterous troops and standing in 
the forefront by riding horses. Wirapati 
symbolizes a responsible commander, da-
ring to take risks, a discipline and exemp-
lary figure for his attendants; (c) sixteen or 



Muhammad Jazuli, Aesthetics of Prajuritan Dance in Semarang Regency 21

musicians.

Moves
Prajuritan dance moves are inspired 

by the soldier  moves of soldiers  when 
they exercise with  swords and shields. 
The moves motif  looks simple and is al-
ways tied to the theme of the story. Broad-
ly speaking, the style of the moves  can be 
divided into three main parts, namely (a) 
the style of sword  and shield Beksan  (dan-
ce), (b) style  of moves without the sword 
and shield, (c) style of moves of sword and 
shield moment.

The floor pattern (dancer formation)
The Prajuritan dance floor pattern is 

varied. Each  form of dance floor pattern 
is called  gelar (formation) in accordance 
with the composition of dance moves na-
mely gelar diratameta, gelar supit urang, ge-
lar sawojajar, gelar  kuntul nebo, gelar wulan 
tumanggal, and gelar garuda nglayang. The  
floor pattern variations of  Prajuritan dan-
ce  are described as follows.

Gelar Diratameta
Diratameta means an angry elephant 

(raging). This war tactic illustrates the 
anger of  an elephant that its trunk and 
tusks are very dangerous and incredible 
strength. In this formation the position of 
trunks serves as a buffer that disrupt the 
enemy line. Left and right tusk as the at-
tacker, and the  head  as a play maker. In a 
war story of  Baratayuda,  gelar Diratameta 
is often used by Kaurava forces. The aest-
hetic value of the formation  appears on a 
rectangular floor pattern.

 
Gelar  Supit Urang 

Supit Urang describe a shrimp  mo-
ving its both chopsticks deftly and careful-
ly. The end of the left and right chopsticks 
function  to strike by  pincering   enemy 
attact and  shrimp body as a play maker. 
The aesthetic value of formation  appears 
on the dancer formation from the right and 
left and then meet in the middle. In Bara-
tayuda, this form is used by the Pandavas 
and Kauravas.

Gelar Sawojajar
Gelar Sawojajar floor pattern with 

formation forms a vertical line, two lines 
are lined back. The dancers are divided 
into two,  right and left,  to form a vertical 
line  moving from the back forward.

Gelar Kuntul Nebo
Kuntul Nebo describes a group of 

birds that comes suddenly and rushed to 
the damaged crops in the fields, meaning  
a group of enemy soldiers attacking  sud-
denly and simultaneously. The aesthetic 
value of gelar Kuntul Nebo  is X-shaped 
formation, the dancers split into two di-
rections, then forward it to the right corner 
and left to form a diagonal line and bum-
ped into each other in the middle.

Gelar Wulan Tumanggal
Gear wulan tumanggal is a war strate-

gy likened to a beginning of the  month. 
The moon shape as if no harm, but actually 
very deadly because at the end of a corner 
and in the middle of the lineup that is al-
ways ready to move (attack) is easy to do. 
This crescent-shaped formation in Bara-
tayuda used by Pandavas  where Arjuna is 
placed in the middle as the executor of the 
attack which is  accompanied by Krishna. 
Yudhisthira accompanied by Nakul and 
Sahadev  is at the back of the moon as the 
playmaker. Bima is  at the right end  and  
Setyaki is on the left one  acting as a clamp 
on the line.

Gelar Garuda  Nglayang
Gelar Garuda Nglayang denotes   a 

semicircular formation as a continuation 
of gelar Sawojajar. After the dancers form 
a vertical line up to the back and then turn 
outwards and curved back. Gelar Garuda  
Nglayang on Prajuritan is inspired from a 
gelar  in Baratayuda war. This gelar  has an 
aggressive character  that all soldiers must 
move quickly.

Dance Music Accompaniment
Music that accompanies the dan-

ce consists of several forms and types 
of instruments, namely bendhe, trendeng 



HARMONIA : Journal of Arts Research and Education 15 (1) (2015): 16-2422

(Dheng-thek), and jidur (small bedhug). 
Bendhe instrument  pitches  slendro (Java-
nese Scale System)  which  it consists  of  
four types, namely (a) Featured Bendhe 
pitched 6 (nem) functions  as stakehol-
ders rhythm, (b) Nyelo Bendhe pitched 5 
(ma)  functions as insertion  between one 
tone  with another tune, (c) Penitir Bend-
he  pitched  3 (lu)  functions as kerepan (A 
fast and constant hit), (d) Jur Bendhe  pit-
ched 2 (ro) functions  as a gong (a sign of 
the end of each verse). Trendheng instru-
ment is a musical instrument shaped like a 
truncated ketipung and made of lambskin. 
Jidur instrument is an additional  musical 
instrument that functions  as a  dynamist 
of music accompaniment  and encourage-
ment to look dynamic motion.

Make Up and Dance Clothing
Makeup and costume of  Prajuritan 

dance are distinguished by its role. Each 
role has  different costume. Manggalayuda 
role with makeup and fashion details con-
sist of : (a) the head using blangkon, (b) 
beskap clothes/surjan, (c) the panji trousers 
(breeches), (d) cloth  with cancutan model, 
(e) belt, (f ) uncal, (g) epek timang, (h) the 
furnishing consists of necklaces scrubs, 
kris, binggel (anklet), sumping (ear), and car-
rying a trumpet. The motif of  manly men 
makes up  tends to be hard and authorita-
tive.

Equipment makeup and  costume 
of  Wirapati role   consist of:  (a) the head 
using blangkon, (b) beskap clothes / surjan, 
(c) panji trousers   (breeches), (d) cloth  
with  cancutan model (e) cindhe belt, (f) 
equipment that consists of kace necklaces / 
scrubs, keris, binggel (anklet), sumping (ear), 
and sometimes use a horse or without a 
horse. The motif of  manly men makes up  
tends to be hard and authoritative.

Makeup and fashion soldiers are: (a) 
the head using iket, (b) vest dress (wear or 
without clothes), (c) the banner trousers 
(breeches), (d) cloth with supit urang mo-
del, (e) sampur, (f) equipment that consists 
of kace necklaces, kris, binggel (feet), and 
carrying a sword and shield. Make motif is  
manly and hard.

Makeup and Pekanthik  are: (a) the 
head using iket, (b) armor vest, (c) the pan-
ji trousers (breeches), (d) cloth with supit 
urang model, (e) belt. Dressing funny mo-
tif, like shaving moustache is just in the 
middle, reduction lip shape.

Value System
The value system of  Prajuritan dan-

ce  encompasses the value of dance con-
tent, source of stories and communicated  
dance symbols, and functions of dance for 
supporting the community. Content value 
of the dance denotes  an expression result 
of public spirit owners that it contains its 
intended purpose. The purpose and ob-
jectives  Prajuritan is  stated by Sularno as 
follow:

Tari Prajuritan menika kangge keba-
tahan masyarakat mriki utaminipun kangge 
kelangenan, lan tanda bilih dsa mriki wonten 
kesenian tradisi ingkang dipun lestariaken…
biasanipun kangge ngramekaken hajatan, ugi 
peringatan hari nasional, lan sanesipun (Pra-
juritan dance is  needed here, especially 
for a vehicle of expression, pleasure and a 
sign that in this village there is tradition art 
that has been preserved ... usually for the 
purposes of a celebration and national day 
commemoration, and others).

The word ‘kelangenan’ is the symbolic 
meaning of the system of cultural values 
associated with the function of dance as 
a means of pleasure (entertainment fun-
ctions) and for the purposes of celebra-
tion (ritual function). This clearly shows 
that what is valuable and meaningful in 
people’s lives has been expressed in sym-
bolic forms such as Prajuritan dance. This 
means that there is a ‘message’ that it will  
be communicated to others or the next ge-
neration. The message is in the form of the 
symbolic value of dance Prajuritan itself, 
such as planting value of the struggle of 
courage, discipline, responsibility, and so 
on. The value of such a struggle is very im-
portant in the lives of Getasan community 
considering the hilly Getasan geography 
with winding roads and up and down. Li-
ving in a state of nature as it really takes 
passion and perseverance in every effort 



Muhammad Jazuli, Aesthetics of Prajuritan Dance in Semarang Regency 23

to meet the necessities of life. Naturally, 
it needs  an unyielding attitude to achieve 
the goals desired by the Getasan commu-
nity.

Source of Story and Symbol of Pra-
juritan Dance Sources of story of Prajuri-
tan dance come from the story of Prince 
Samber nyawa struggle against the Dutch 
in Semarang residence. From the sour-
ce of this story, it arises the idea to crea-
te a monument to recallthe struggle of 
the populist and charismatic hero, Prin-
ce Sambernyawa. The monument is rea-
lized in a dance work called Prajuritan. 

Functions Dancing Prajuritan
Prajuritan dance functions can be 

divided into two aspects, namely the ri-
tual and entertainment. The function of 
the rituals associated with the celebrati-
on  namely sadranan ceremony and bersih 
desa (clean the village)  usually served in 
the field with a complete number of dan-
cers complete  around 25 to 30 dancers as  
noted by Ms. Sugiyanti (Interview July 9, 
2012) following.

Tari prajuritan ingkang wetah meni-
ka biasanipun  kangge keperluan bersih desa, 
kadang sadranan…dipun tampilaken wonten 
lapangan supados para warga saged mriksani 
lan dereng nyengkuyung babagan kelestarian 
kesenian kita piyambak tari Prajuritan (the 
full  Prajuritan dance which is usually 
displayed at the village clean and someti-
mes sadranan ... held in the open field so 
that all citizens can see and belonging and 
then  to preserve our own art, Prajuritan 
dance).

Entertainment functions are typical-
ly associated with the performing arts in 
order to celebrate Indonesia’s Indepen-
dence Day, Wasana Warsa, circumcision, 
welcoming guests and so on. In Prajuritan 
dance, entertainment functions is perfor-
med in accordance with the requirements, 
meaning not as complete as ritual events.

Aesthetics Dance Prajuritan
Based on the analysis of the scientific, 

aesthetic theory, including aspects of who-

leness, protrusion, and the balance shows 
that the tree covered in Prajuritan dance is  
interconnected, correlative,  and comple-
ment each other in creating an expression 
of art and culture of a society. Wholeness  
of Prajuritan dance, especially apparent 
from the choreography of  the dance con-
sisting, dance form,  theme, number of 
dancers, structure moves, formation of  
dancer, accompaniment, makeup and dan-
ce costume.

It departs from the data obtained to 
elucidate and  analyse it one by one the ae-
sthetics of Prajuritan dance. Actually, there  
are   three aspects that cannot be separated 
in the analysis the Prajuritan dance. Howe-
ver, for the sake of clarity and firmness or 
an analysis, it is presented below by going 
to each aspect of its depiction of the out-
line elements of dance that exist in every 
aspect. It looks simple, dynamic, and  mo-
notonous, but rousing  in  all performances 
of the Prajuritan dance. Such performance  
may only be done when each dancer has 
the discipline, courage and responsibility 
to achieve compactness  in a group dan-
ce. Prajuritan balance can be seen from the 
combination of hard and soft moves (uni-
fication in diversity), harmony between 
moves  patterns with accompaniment pat-
terns  along with makeup and costume that 
is stable impression of simplicity, dynamic 
expression, and monotonous in disclos-
ure (wiraga, wirama, and wirasa). Balance 
or harmony of that dance performance is  
certainly an attractive and entertaining 
spectacle. As told by Parker (1980), that 
the balance as a principle form denotes an 
equation of the aesthetic elements of oppo-
sing or resistance but need each other to 
deliver a whole.

CONCLUSION

The conclusions of this study are 
that  the aesthetics of Prajuritan dance are 
formed from different elements of dance 
choreography, harmony with the source 
of the story and the value system in the 
form of symbols and values that live in the 
community and  functional for both sub-



HARMONIA : Journal of Arts Research and Education 15 (1) (2015): 16-2424

sistence of the communities and entertain-
ment, social integration, and mode of the 
ongoing fulfilment of ritual in the cultural 
environment of the Getasan district,  in Se-
marang regency.

Based on the result above it suggest: 
First, the pattern of the choreography of 
Prajuritan dance  need to be styled  to be 
more varied and interesting (not monoto-
nous). Second, Prajuritan dance as a form 
of traditional performing arts should be 
developed and are performed to make in-
creased community  participation so that 
they  really feel to have thus it can reinfor-
ce the dance as one of cultural identity in 
Semarang Regency.

REFERENCE

Djelantik. (1999). Aesthetics: An Introduc-
tion. New York: Society for the Per-
forming Arts of Indonesia.

Haberman, M. and Garth T. M. (1970). 
Dance and Art Academy. New York: 
Teachers College Columbia Univer-
sity.

Jazuli, M. (2001). Paradigma Seni Pertunju-
kan. Yogyakarta: Lentera Budaya.

Jazuli. (2008). Suplemen Pembelajaran Seni 
Budaya. Semarang: Unnes Press

Kaeppler,  A. L., (l977).  “Polynesia Dance 
as Airport Art”, in Asian and Pacific 
Dance, se-lected papers from the 
CORD-Sem  Conference (ed.), Andri-
enne L. Kaeppler  (et al.), New York: 
CORD, p.p. 7l-84.  

Koentjaraningrat. (1980). Pengantar Ilmu  
Antropologi. Jakarta:  Aksara Baru.

Kusumawardani, Ida. (2012). Makna Tari 

Sontoloyo Giyanti Wonosobo. Jurnal 
Seni Tari.  1(1), 20-27

Meyer, Leonard P. (1970). Music, The Arts, 
and Ideas, Chicago, London: Univer-
sity of Chicago Press. 

Miles, M.B. & Huberman. (1994). Qualita-
tive Data Analysis. London. New Del-
hi:  SAGE Publications.

Parker, De Witt H. 1980.  Dasar-dasar Es-
tetik. Translated by D. Humardani. 
Surakarta: Akademi Seni Karawitan 
Indonesia (ASKI). 

Ratih, E. (2004). Penanaman Nilai Tari 
Prajuritan pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar 
di Kabupaten  Semarang. Thesis. Se-
marang: Program Pasca Sarjana Un-
nes.

Sahman, U. (1993). Estetika: Telaan Sistemik 
dan Historik. Semarang: IKIP Sema-
rang Press. 

Soedarsono. (1987). “Seni Pertunjukan Jawa 
Tradisional dan Pariwisata di Daerah 
Istimewa Yogyakarta”. Yogyakarta: 
Research Project Report of Cultural 
Nusantara (Javanology). 

Sudjendro, H. (1999). Tari Prajuritan Kese-
nian Khas Kabupaten Semarang. Sema-
rang: Dinas Pendidikan Kabupaten 
Semarang.

Sudjendro. (2002). “Geliat Prajuritan, Ke-
senian Tradisional Khas Kabupaten 
Semarang”. Inspirator No. 137  Vol-
ume IV,  Maret 2002

Suharrji. (2014). Ngesti Sendang Dadapan 
Ritual in Boyolali Regency. Harmo-
nia: Journal of Arts Research and Edu-
cation, 14 (2), 140-146

The Liang Gie. (1976). Filsafat Keindahan. 
Yogyakarta: PUBIB