From Pakem to Geometry: An ethnomathematical study of transformation concepts in the movements and floor patterns of Javanese Traditional Dance

Sheila Aulia

doi:10.21831/ej.v7i2.99504

Authors

Sheila Aulia Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21831/ej.v7i2.99504

Abstract

This study aims to explore geometric transformation concepts in the movements and floor patterns of Javanese traditional dance through an ethnomathematics approach, using a document study method. The documents analysed were SINTA-indexed scientific articles that specifically discuss ethnomathematics or geometry in the Bedhaya, Serimpi, Merak, and Remo dances. A systematic search produced 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The document analysis was carried out in three stages: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. It was guided by the framework of geometric transformations and by Bishop's (1988) six fundamental mathematical activities, which served as the coding system. The findings show that all four types of geometric transformation, namely translation, rotation, reflection, and dilation, are documented in the analysed articles. The Bedhaya dance presents a cosmological configuration of nine dancers that covers all types of transformation; the Serimpi dance shows double bilateral symmetry and rotational symmetry of order four; the Merak dance represents translation through regular, repeated floor patterns; and the Remo dance shows varied rotations and dilation in the movement of the shawl (selendang). The cross-document findings confirm that Javanese traditional dance is a mathematically codified living tradition and can serve as an authentic source for learning geometric transformations. The pedagogical implications documented in the analysed articles include the development of student worksheets based on dance movements and the use of kinesthetic simulations as a culturally responsive context for mathematics learning.

References

Aminah, A. (2024). Makna Kiblat Papat Lima Pancer Negara Sebagai Wujud Spiritualitas Nagari Kasultanan Ngayogyakarta. Humanika, 24(1), 1–18. Https://Doi.Org/10.21831/Hum.V24i1.55126.

Ayuni Sri Utami, & Akbar Al Masjid. (2019). Kesenian Tari Bedhaya Ketawang Sebagai Kesenian Tradisional Indonesia. Jurnal Dinamika Sosial Budaya, 21(2), 82.

Azzahrawani, F., Pos-Pos, M., Kholilah, N., Maharani, P., Mailani, E., Wahyuni, S., Ketaren, M. A., & Ilmy, W. N. (2025). Kemampuan Pemecahan Masalah Siswa Sekolah Dasar Integration Of Ethnomathematics In Mathematics Learning To Improve Literacy And Problem-Solving Abilities Of. Jicn: Jurnal Intelek Dan Cendekiawan Nusantara, 2(6), 10597–10603.

Bishop, A. J. (1988). Mathematical Enculturation: A Cultural Perspective On Mathematics Education. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document Analysis As A Qualitative Research Method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. Https://Doi.Org/10.3316/QRJ0902027

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, And Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.

D’Ambrosio, U. (1985). Ethnomathematics And Its Place In The History And Pedagogy Of Mathematics. For The Learning Of Mathematics, 5(1), 44–48.

D’Ambrosio, U. (2006). Ethnomathematics: Link Between Traditions And Modernity. Sense Publishers.

Fortuna, H., Siagian, R., & Gardenia, N. (2025). Eksplorasi Etnomatematika Pada Tari Jaipong Di Sanggar Tari Andri Kota Bekasi 1. Aritmatika, 6(2023), 29–50.

Habibah, Zulkarnain, I., & Budiarti, I. (2022). Eksplorasi Etnomatematika Konsep Geometri Pada Pola Gerak Tari Tradisional Banjar Baksa Kembang. Edu-Mat: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 10(2), 266–279. Https://Doi.Org/10.20527/Edumat.V10i2.14090

Haddaway, N. R., Page, M. J., Pritchard, C. C., & Mcguinness, L. A. (2022). PRISMA2020: An R Package And Shiny App For Producing PRISMA 2020-Compliant Flow Diagrams. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(2), e1230. Https://Doi.Org/10.1002/Cl2.1230

Haqiqi, A. K., & Malasari, P. N. (2021). Etnomatematika Gerakan Tari Kretek Kudus Pada Pembelajaran Matematika. Algoritma Journal Of Mathematics Education, 3(1), 58–71.

Hidayati, U., Haidar, I., & Marillah, D. (2025). Eksplorasi Etnomatematika Konsep Transformasi Geometri Pada Ragam Hias Mekongga Motif Tabere. Jagomipa, 5(1), 275–285. Https://Doi.Org/10.53299/Jagomipa.V5i1.1467

Kholifah, I. S., Wijayanti, R. A. R., & Faulina, R. (2022). Analisis Pemahaman Konsep Geometri Transformasi Dalam Penerapan Etnomatematika Budaya Batik Tulis Tanjung Bumi. Jurnal Cendikia: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika,06(02),1797–1809.

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

Muhammad, I. (2023). Penelitian Etnomatematika Dalam Pembelajaran Matematika (1995–2023). Edukasia, 4(2019), 427–438.

Muzni, A. A., & Rafianti, I. (2024). Systematic Literature Review : Gerak Tari Tradisional. Jupika: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika Universitas Flores, 7(September), 86–96. Https://Doi.Org/10.37478/Jupika.V7i2.4425

Naja, F. Y., Mei, A., & Sa, S. (2021). Eksplorasi Konsep Etnomatematika Pada Gerak Tari Tradisional Suku Lio. Aksioma: Jurnal Program Studi Pendidikan Matematika, 10(3), 1836–1847.

Nugroho, M. A., & Munahefi, D. N. (2022). Pengembangan Buku Ajar Materi Rotasi Dalam Geometri Transformasi Pada Gerakan Tari Kretek Kudus Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berpikir Kreatif Peserta Didik Smp The Development Of A Textbook Of Rotational Material In Geometry Transformations In The Kretek. Math Locus: Jurnal Riset Dan Inovasi Pendidikan Matematika, 3(1), 66–75.

Pardimin, & Supriadi, D. (2025). Ethnomathematics Of Javanese Culture In The Inquiry Learning Model. Aksioma: Jurnal Program Studi Pendidikan Matematika, 14(4), 1465–1480.

Prahmana, R. C. I., & D’Ambrosio, U. (2020). Learning Geometry And Values From Patterns : Ethnomathematics On The Batik Patterns Of Yogyakarta , Indonesia. Journal Of Mathematics Education, 11(3), 439–456.

Pratiwi, S. A., & Mushlihuddin, R. (2021). Desain Pengembangan Tari Serampang 12 Sebagai Media Pembelajaran Etnomatematika Materi Geometri Transformasi. Edumatika: Jurnal Mipa, 1(1), 11–16.

Ramadani, I., Latif, N. H., Nurul, A., & Mn, A. (2026). Analisis Transformasi Geometri Dan Simetri Pada Pola Lantai Tari Lipa ’ Sa ’ Be Dalam Perspektif Etnomatematika. Mandalika Mathematics And Education Journal, 8(2), 929–938. Https://Doi.Org/10.29303/Jm.V8i2.11998

Risdiyanti, I., & Prahmana, R. C. I. (2018). Etnomatematika: Eksplorasi Dalam Permainan Tradisional Jawa. Journal Of Medives : Journal Of Mathematics Education Ikip Veteran Semarang, 2(1), 1. Https://Doi.Org/10.31331/Medives.V2i1.562

Rosa, M., D’Ambrosio, U., Orey, D. C., Shirley, L., Alangui, W. V., Palhares, P., & Gavarrete, M. E. (2016). Current And Future Perspectives Of Ethnomathematics As A Program. Springer.

Sudirman, Son, A. L., & Rosyadi. (2018). Penggunaan Etnomatematika Pada Batik Paoman Dalam Pembelajaran. Indomath: Indonesian Mathematics Education, 1(1), 27–34.

Sulistyawati, E., Nirmala, B. I., & Hamidah, D. (2025). Ethnomathematical Exploration Of The Remo Dance As A Source For Mathematics Learning. Elemen, 11(December 2024), 34–49.

Suwardi, D., & Madawistama, S. T. (2025). Eksplorasi Etnomatematika: Transformasi Geometri Pada Pola Gerak Dan Pola Lantai Tari Sulintang. Perisai, 4(3), 261–271.

Triyono, R., Putri, D. A., Ardiningrum, D., Nuramalia, S., Patmawati, H., & Amarulloh, S. I. (2024). Eksplorasi Etnomatematika : Konsep Simetri Pada Pola Gerak Tari Merak. De Fermat: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 7(2), 67–82.

Werdiningsih, C. E., & Anawati, S. (2024). Eksplorasi Etnomatematika Pada Gerakan Tari Serimpi Sebagai Sumber Belajar Matematika Pada Materi Geometri. Pijar: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran, 3(1), 78–88. Https://Doi.Org/10.58540/Pijar.V3i1.688