BARONGAN DANCE: INSTILLING LOCAL WISDOM VALUES TO FOSTER CULTURAL AWARENESS IN GENERATION Z

Abstract

Generation Z, growing up in the digital era, faces significant challenges in the form
of shifting values and declining awareness of local culture. This study aims to explore
the instillation of local wisdom values through the Barongan Dance as an instrument
to foster cultural awareness in Generation Z. The research method used is descriptive
qualitative with an ethnographic approach. Data collection was conducted through
participant observation, in-depth interviews with traditional leaders and Barongan
Dance artists, and documentation studies. Data analysis used data reduction, data
presentation, and conclusion drawing techniques. The research findings show that the
Barongan Dance not only functions as a performing art, but is also rich in local
wisdom values such as religious values, mutual cooperation, discipline, and chivalry
(courage to defend the truth). The instillation of these values in Generation Z was
successfully carried out effectively through modifications to communication
strategies, the use of social media for performance documentation, and their active
involvement in group practice processes. The implications of this study emphasize the
importance of transforming traditional arts into a modern context without losing their
essence. The Barongan Dance can be a strategic character education medium in both
formal and informal environments to maintain the sustainability of the nation's
cultural identity in the future.