THE BODY LOSING GROUND: DANCE EDUCATION AND THE URGENCY OF PRESERVING LOCAL TRACES IN THE DIGITAL ERA

Abstract

The development of digital culture and social media has accelerated the spread of
popular movement trends in the choreographic practices of younger generations. This
condition encourages the homogenization of movement patterns as many dancers and
choreographers adopt popular choreographic movements exposed through media
without understanding the cultural values and local traditions underlying them. As a
result, regional choreographic identities gradually weaken and local movement
characteristics become increasingly difficult to recognize. This study discusses the
urgency of dance education in preserving cultural locality through choreography
learning rooted in regional cultural values. The research employs a reflective
qualitative approach based on artistic practices and educational experiences within
cultural communities. The findings reveal that the body in dance functions not only
as a medium of artistic expression, but also as a repository of cultural memory and
regional identity. Choreography education based on local wisdom is able to strengthen
cultural identity while encouraging the creativity of younger generations amid the
influence of digital culture and global aesthetic trends. In conclusion, dance education
plays a strategic role in sustaining local cultural identity through the creative
choreographic processes of younger generations.