Soshum: Jurnal Sosial dan Humaniora
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2026): July 2026

Forests, Lived Relations, and Dance Creation in Papua

Ida Bagus Gede Surya Peradantha (Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia Tanah Papua)
Andy McNeilly (Trillium Lakelands District School Board, Ontario, Canada)
Jimmi Rerei (Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia Tanah Papua)
Yosinta Kawagop (Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia Tanah Papua)
Dominggas Sobi (Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia Tanah Papua)
Kadek Indra Wijaya (Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia Tanah Papua)
Ellaboge Mulyani Uaga (Universitas Cenderawasih, Papua)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study explains how forests are positioned as living spaces within Papuan worldviews and how disruptions to this relationship affect sources of artistic creation, particularly dance. The study adopts a conceptual approach grounded in literature synthesis, critical engagement with previous scholarship, and contextual reflection on cultural and artistic practices. The analysis shows that forests are understood as living spaces that shape sociocultural relations, cosmological orientations, and embodied experience among Papuan communities, while sustaining the continuity of cultural practice and dance creation. Disruptions such as pollution, deforestation, and land conversion affect not only physical ecology but also interrupt lived practices, embodied knowledge, and cultural meanings that underpin creative processes. The study clarifies that forests are not treated as a singular origin of Papuan dance but as one of several relational spaces within a network of lived experience that informs artistic creation. These findings contribute to performing arts scholarship by framing the forest as a relational and epistemic foundation for dance creation and by offering conceptual implications for creative practice and context-based choreographic education.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

SOSHUM

Publisher

Subject

Arts Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Focus and Scope Soshum: Jurnal Sosial dan Humaniora aims to develop itself as a pioneer journal for the social sciences with a focus on emerging issues pertaining to the social and behavioural sciences as well as humanities. Areas relevant to the scopes of the journal include Social Sciences, ...