YOGYAKARTA—The Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta held a farewell ceremony for Prof. Dr. I Wayan Dana, S.S.T., M.Hum., Professor of Dance and Secretary of the ISI Yogyakarta Senate, at the ISI Yogyakarta Concert Hall on Tuesday (5/5/2026). The event, with the theme “Weaving Movement, Dancing Time,” was a form of institutional appreciation for Prof. I Wayan Dana's long service in arts education, dance, and culture.
This retirement ceremony is not only presented as an academic ceremony, but also as an artistic celebration of the journey of a professor, artist, researcher, and educator who has made important contributions to the development of Indonesian performing arts. The series of activities will include a dance performance, the launch of the book “Weaving Movement, Dancing Time: A Tribute to 70 Years of Prof. Dr. I Wayan Dana, S.S.T., M.Hum.”, and the launch of the Annotated Catalog of I Wayan Dana, which documents his body of work and thoughts.
This event is the result of a cross-unit collaboration within ISI Yogyakarta, specifically the Undergraduate Dance Program of the Faculty of Performing Arts, the Undergraduate Art Management Program of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, and the ISI Yogyakarta Graduate Program. This synergy demonstrates the collective appreciation of the academic community for Prof. I Wayan Dana's long-standing contributions to the development of artistic practice, education, research, and cultural thought. The Rector of ISI Yogyakarta, Dr. Irwandi, M.Sn., expressed that ISI Yogyakarta is proud to have a figure like Prof. I Wayan Dana. According to him, retirement is not the end of an academician's and artist's journey, but rather a new milestone to continue creating, sharing knowledge, and spreading the spirit of art education to the community. “ISI Yogyakarta is truly proud to have a figure like Prof. Dana,” said the Rector. He emphasized that Prof. I Wayan Dana's dedication has become an important part of the history, reputation, and academic ecosystem of ISI Yogyakarta as an art higher education institution that continuously develops science, artistic practice, and culture.
On that occasion, Prof. I Wayan Dana expressed his pride in being part of ISI Yogyakarta's journey. He recalled the beginning of his service since being appointed as a civil servant candidate in 1979 after graduating from the Indonesian Dance Arts Academy (ASTI) Yogyakarta, one of the art academies that later became part of ISI Yogyakarta. “I am proud to be a part of ISI Yogyakarta's existence,” said Prof. I Wayan Dana. He also conveyed important ideas regarding strengthening academic regeneration, especially through the mentorship of prospective professors by active professors. According to him, each active professor can be given a role to mentor two or three prospective professors so that the academic tradition, research, and scientific development within the campus environment continue.
The event featured a series of performances, including the Sekar Pudyastuti Dance, the Keras Penglembar Mask Dance, the Janger Abhinaya Dance, as well as a dance performance by Prof. I Wayan Dana himself, serving as an artistic reflection of his creative journey. These artistic presentations signify that the dedication of a professor of arts is not only reflected in academic documents but also through the body, movement, works, and the transmission of values to the next generation. Appreciation also came from dance artist Didik Nini Thowok, a senior of Prof. I Wayan Dana during his studies at ASTI Yogyakarta. In a video message, Didik expressed his hope that Prof. I Wayan Dana will remain active in his work and continue to contribute to the development of art. “Hopefully, he will continue to move to preserve and bring innovation to the world of art,” he said. The launch of a book written by 44 authors from various backgrounds was one of the important parts of the event.
The launched annotated book and catalog serve not only as a tribute but also as an archive of knowledge that encapsulates the influence of Prof. I Wayan Dana as an educator, artist, researcher, and cultural thinker. Documentation of this kind holds strategic significance for art higher education institutions as it preserves the traces of ideas, practices, and creative processes that can serve as a reference for future generations of academics and artists. Through the “Weaving Movement, Dancing Ages” event, ISI Yogyakarta reaffirms its commitment as an art campus that not only produces artists and academics but also nurtures the legacy of knowledge, strengthens regeneration, and presents art as a living force of culture. The retirement of Prof. I Wayan Dana becomes a moment to re-examine the meaning of dedication: that the work, knowledge, and example of a professor will continue to dance in the journey of Indonesian art and culture.
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