Bekasi Regency is preparing to make history in the national cultural arts scene. Ujungan Dance, a distinctive dance art adapted from local agility traditions, is scheduled to deliver a mesmerizing performance at the 25th Five Mountains Festival (Festival Lima Gunung XXV), which will take place in Pakis District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
Choreographer Eyang Anjar Purwani revealed that this nearly five-minute performance is a strategic step to introduce Bekasi's cultural identity to a broader audience. Although the troupe's trip to Magelang is self-funded without sponsor support, the artists' passion to promote their regional heritage remains unshakable.
The Ujungan Dance itself is the result of transforming a traditional sport of the Bekasi people. Its primary movements are designed to preserve basic philosophies such as readiness, striking, dodging, and defending using signature ujungan props. This dance was first presented to the public during the 73rd anniversary of Bekasi Regency, involving thousands of local students.
The successful development of the Ujungan Dance is inseparable from cross-party collaboration, ranging from the Ki Sayan Pencak Silat School, the Regional Cultural Council of Bekasi Regency, to the Margasari Kacrit Betawi Art Studio. This synergy is expected to be a momentum for Bekasi's traditional dance art to become increasingly recognized and preserved by the present generation at the national level.
