Indonesian traditional dance: ethnomathematics on culture as a basis of learning mathematics in elementary schools

Abstract

Traditional dance is part of a culture that has a deep philosophy and contains various knowledge. Gandrung Jejer Jaran Dawuk (GJJD) dance is a traditional dance from Banyuwangi-Indonesia which is still taught to students in elementary and secondary schools. This study aims to explore the GJJD dance motions carried out singly, identify ethnomathematics in the GJJD dance motions, and determine whether the identified ethnomathematics can be applied to mathematics learning in elementary schools. The method used is a qualitative with ethnographic approach. Research informants are GJJD creators, dance trainers, and the dancers from Banyuwangi who are still actively doing GJJD dance. GJJD dance contains variations of motion that can be classified into : footwork, body, head, and hand motions. The identification of the motion variations obtained shows that there are mathematical concepts, namely : counting numbers in all motions, number pattern in footwork, angle in all motions, and the position of the object based on the compass point in footwork and body motions. The concepts identified are found in mathematics learning in elementary schools. Ethnomathematics of GJJD dance motion can be used as a basis for learning mathematics in elementary schools in the form of thematic learning.