Depok, July 5, 2025 – The Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI) in collaboration with the Bakul Budaya Community organized a public lecture entitled “Preservation of Lengger Dance” by presenting the Banyumasan Lengger dance maestro, Rianto. The event, which took place at the Auditorium Building I FIB UI, drew the enthusiasm of more than a hundred participants from students, artists, academics, and the general public.
In a session that was intense, reflective, and full of emotional content, Rianto unveiled his body’s journey as a medium for cultural preservation. Rianto described his struggle to raise the name of Lengger dance on the world stage without support from the start until it gained popularity.
Furthermore, Rianto emphasized that Lengger is not just a dance, but a spiritual expression and contemplation space inherent in the human body and soul. ce space for tradition,” he said.
The public lecture was moderated by Dr. Phil. Lily Tjahjandari, M.Hum., CertDA, Head of the Center for Research on Society and Culture (PPKB) FIB UI. In her remarks, Lily stated that this activity was a tangible form of FIB UI’s commitment to nurturing culture, not only as an object of study, but as a shared life experience. FIB UI is committed to making the campus a space for dialogue between science and culture, between theory and practice.
The collaboration between PPKB FIB UI and Bakul Budaya Community marks the importance of community-based cultural preservation. As a token of appreciation, the event was closed with the presentation of a certificate to Rianto as a public lecture lecturer by Dr. Phil. Lily Tjahjandari. The Bakul Budaya community also bestowed the Cultural Appreciation Award to Rianto for his dedication as a maestro and preservationist of Lengger Banyumasan dance. This award is part of the Bakul Budaya Cultural Appreciation Division’s work program.
Rianto also received a special gift in the form of a hoodie with a special design from the community that Dr. Junaidi nicknamed “Doraemon‘s pocket”, because it always produces various creative ideas and activities in the field of arts and culture.
With the spirit brought to life through this public lecture, FIB UI and the cultural community hope that traditions, such as Lengger, will continue to find their relevance in the midst of the times. Not only as a legacy, but as a living movement born from the body, soul and collective consciousness across generations. (RMRW)
