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Balinese festival receives warm welcome in Netherlands
A cultural festival led by Balinese dance maestro Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik in the Netherlands has received positive feedback from visitors.
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Held on Oct. 22 to 23 at the Volkenkunde Museum in Leiden, the Sangasari Festival was initiated by the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague in collaboration with Holland-based Balinese dance group DwiBhumi. (JP/Hans Kleijn)
A
cultural festival led by Balinese dance maestro Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik in the Netherlands has received positive feedback from visitors.
Held on Oct. 22 to 23 at the Volkenkunde Museum in Leiden, the Sangasari Festival was initiated by the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague in collaboration with Holland-based Balinese dance group DwiBhumi. Ayu reportedly hosted the event's presentation, discussion and dance workshop sessions.
The festival kicked off with Gamelan Baleganjur presented by Banjar Suka-Duka, one of the country’s Balinese cultural groups, and closed with a dance performance featuring Sangasari, a compilation of nine Balinese dances that have been recognized by UNESCO as examples of world intangible cultural heritage, including the Topeng Tua Dance, Puspa Mekar choreographed by Guruh Soekarnoputra, Jauk Keras, Legong Kupu-kupu Tarum and Topeng Sitayana.
(Read also: Artists interpret shared Dutch-Indonesian Heritage)
“Most of the visitors returned on the second day to attend the workshops,” said festival representative Arjanti Dwi Bhumi regarding the enthusiasm from visitors, who were mostly local residents.
Volkenkunde Museum's representative Anne Marie Woerle appreciated the initiative taken by the embassy to hold the festival as it enriched the Indonesian arts and culture section at the museum. “Volkenkunde Museum also hosts gamelan Bali training every Sunday morning, which has successfully attracted many people,” Woerle said as reported by tempo.com.
The embassy's education and cultural attaché Bambang Hari Wibisono said similar activities in the future should involve students in the Netherlands to help promote Indonesian culture and provide educational value. “[This event] helps Dutch youths to have a better understanding and a stronger interest in Indonesian arts and culture,” Bambang added. (jes/kes)
