BEKASI CITY — Global Persada Mandiri Junior High School (GPM) in East Bekasi held a spectacular arts and culture performance titled “Anchabharma: Harmony of Tradition and Digital Technology”.

A total of 270 students from grades 7, 8, and 9 delivered a stunning performance that blended the cultural heritage of the archipelago with digital literacy, held in the GPM Junior High School Ballroom on Saturday night.

The performance opened with grade 7 students presenting a series of dances themed “GPM Junior High School Profile: Bekasi in Diversity”. It began with the energetic Bekasi Keren Dance, followed by the Religious Diversity Dance depicting the harmony of five religions, the Pancasila Student Profile Dance expressing six character dimensions, and culminating in the Extracurricular Dance portraying the dynamics of after-school activities at GPM Junior High.

“Today’s performance by the 7th graders was extraordinary. They successfully showed that Bekasi’s local identity and diversity can beautifully blend with Pancasila values,” said the Principal of Global Persada Mandiri Junior High School.

“This is an important foundation before we embark on a deeper journey about how tradition and technology can synergize,” they added.

One hundred grade 8 students performed a contemporary *keroncong* musical drama telling the story of the Famous Five being sucked into the virtual game Archipelago Quest: In Search of the Nation’s Identity. Accompanied by a live *keroncong* orchestra, the students presented the Digital Remo Dance (East Java), a futuristic Enggang Dance (Kalimantan), and a modern Sajojo Dance (Papua), complete with stunning digital visual effects and LED projections.

“We wanted to show that technology and tradition are not two opposing things. *Keroncong*, which is considered old-fashioned, can be arranged with an electronic beat. Regional dances can be combined with robotic movements. This is what we call ‘cultural innovation’—innovation that still respects its roots,” explained the GPM Junior High Arts and Culture Teacher.

The peak of the performance was the presentation by 60 grade 9 students in a contemporary puppet drama interpreting the Mahabharata epic in the context of the digital era. Yudhistira trapped in gambling addiction, Karna experiencing FOMO, to Duryodana’s social media manipulation—all packaged with a digital backdrop, sophisticated multimedia, and captivating electronic-gamelan music.

Student and Parent Testimonials

“I think the GPM School 2025 performance was really fun and cool because the activities were enjoyable, many people attended the performance event, and it made the school atmosphere super fun. I really want an event like that performance to be held again every year because it creates unforgettable memories and togetherness,” said an 8th-grade Socrates student.

An 8th-grade Plato student added that this performance was very good because the children looked enthusiastic and impressed the audience with their performance. Meanwhile, according to a 7th-grade Soepomo student, this year’s performance was very exciting, where the 7th graders could dance together, fostering friendship and closeness.

Furthermore, a parent of an 8th-grade student expressed appreciation for the performance activity, which was executed very well in line with GPM Junior High’s goal setting for character building.

“I witnessed the Global Persada Mandiri Junior High School Performance: ‘The Anchabharma’. I saw grades 7–9 students here, I saw self-reflection and the beauty of unity in diversity. I also went home feeling proud,” added a parent of a 9th-grade student.

Transformative and Inclusive Arts-Based Education

In closing, the Principal conveyed that tonight we witnessed how our 270 students not only performed on stage but also performed as their best selves.

“From grade 7 introducing identity and diversity, grade 8 bridging tradition with technology, to grade 9 reminding us of the importance of self-mastery—this is true transformative education,” they said.

The Arts and Culture Teacher added emotionally that after three months of preparation, hundreds of hours of practice, sweat, tears, and laughter, it was all worth it tonight.

“These children didn’t just learn to dance and act. They learned discipline, cooperation, empathy, and courage. That is the essence of arts education,” they concluded.

The performance, also attended by several principals

Bekasi Keren Dance

“Bekasi Keren Dance” is a modern, energetic dance form originating from Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, created to express local pride and contemporary urban identity. While not an ancient tradition, it emerged in the early 21st century as a creative movement by local youth, blending elements of traditional Betawi dance with modern hip-hop and street dance styles. It serves as a vibrant symbol of the city’s dynamic and evolving cultural spirit.

Religious Diversity Dance

“Religious Diversity Dance” is not a specific, widely recognized cultural site or historical place. It is likely a reference to a performance, festival, or educational event that uses dance to explore and celebrate different religious traditions. Such events are typically modern creations aimed at promoting interfaith understanding and cultural exchange through artistic expression.

Pancasila Student Profile Dance

The Pancasila Student Profile Dance is a contemporary Indonesian performance art piece, not a historical site, created to artistically represent the core values of the Pancasila state ideology—such as divinity, just humanity, unity, democracy, and social justice—through movement. It was developed as an educational tool to help students internalize these national principles in a creative and engaging way, reflecting modern efforts to promote civic education and national character.

Extracurricular Dance

“Extracurricular Dance” is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a term for dance activities outside a formal academic curriculum. Historically, such programs in schools and communities have provided important access to artistic education and cultural expression, often preserving and evolving local dance traditions. They serve as a significant, though often informal, platform for cultural engagement and personal development.

Digital Remo Dance

“Digital Remo Dance” is a contemporary cultural initiative that uses digital platforms to preserve and promote the traditional Remo dance of the Yoruba people in Nigeria. It emerged in the 21st century as a response to the need for cultural preservation in the digital age, making this vibrant, drum-accompanied performance art accessible to a global audience through online tutorials, virtual performances, and social media.

Enggang Dance

The Enggang Dance, also known as the Hornbill Dance, is a traditional ceremonial dance of the Iban and other Dayak peoples of Borneo. It is performed to honor the hornbill bird, a sacred symbol of the warrior spirit and the upper world in Iban mythology. Historically, it was an integral part of the Gawai Kenyalang festival and other rituals to invoke strength and guidance from the spiritual realm.

Sajojo Dance

The Sajojo dance is a traditional Papuan welcome dance from Indonesia, characterized by its energetic, communal movements and rhythmic chanting. Historically, it was performed to celebrate victories, welcome guests, and strengthen community bonds, with its name derived from the repeated chant “Sajojo” that accompanies the performance. Today, it remains a vibrant symbol of Papuan cultural identity, often showcased at festivals and official events.

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is not a physical place but a foundational epic of ancient Indian literature and Hindu tradition. Composed in Sanskrit and traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa, its core narrative likely took shape between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE, culminating in its current form around the 4th century CE. It tells the story of a great war between two branches of a royal family, the Pandavas and Kauravas, and is renowned for its philosophical depth, particularly in the Bhagavad Gita.