The Bali Puspa Sari Gamelan Group has returned to Italy after 20 years.

Supervised by the Indonesian Embassy in Rome, the group consists of Italians and Indonesians living in the city who have a similar mission of promoting Indonesian culture through Balinese gamelan and dances.

Following an inauguration ceremony led by Indonesian Ambassador to Italy Esti Andayani, a cultural event titled “Gamelan Puspa Sari 2.0” was held on March 11 at the embassy, featuring performances of Tabuh Gilakand Ramayana by 18 young musicians that included Indonesian and Italian students as well as Indonesians residing in the country.

Daniele Zapatore, a doctoral student of etnomusicology at La Sapienza University in Rome who studied Bali cultural art in Indonesia last year, served as music arranger for the event and initiator for the group's comeback. 

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Indonesian I Ketut Yuni Paccioti, who has been living in Italy for 30 years, contributed to the event by performing the margapati dance.

As reported by kompas.com, around 150 guests were invited to the event, most of them young Italians. 

"It's a very interesting event; makes me want to study Indonesia even more," said high school student Ludovica.

"I want to design clothes using Indonesian fabric and showcase them at Rome Fashion Week in July," said Camilla, a student at KOEFIA fashion school. (kes)

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