LSO Seisdance Will Held Saman Dance Festival
Rectorate, UIN News Online – Autonomus Arts Institutiom (LSO) Seisdance Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UIN Jakarta is scheduled to hold the Seisdance Modern Generation of Ratoeh Jaroe Festival (Seismograf) in April 4th, 2017. The festival will be attended by at least 40 junior and senior high schools in Greater Jakarta and universities throughout Indonesia.
The Seisdance committee chairperson Dewanti Prasasha Naadiyah to UIN News Online in rectorate building, Wednesday, (4/5), explained that the Ratu Jaroe or Acehnese Saman dance is aimed to introduce the Indonesian traditional culture and arts as well as to promote UIN Jakarta to the public, especially to the students.
“Indonesia is culturally rich, so we want to introduce Indonesian culture to civitas academica of UIN Jakarta. Additionally, we will promote UIN Jakarta to the event participants,†she said.
Saman dance is one of the most popular dances in Indonesia that has historical and cultural values of Islam.  Its origin is from the Gayo ethnic group from Gayo Lues, Aceh province, Sumatra, and is normally performed to celebrate important occasions. This dance is usually performed to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Some literatures mentioned that Saman dance was developed by Syekh Saman, an ulema from Gayo.
She explained further, the event will be held at Harun Nasution Auditorium, Campus I of UIN Jakarta. The festival participant consists of a total of 14 participants of junior high school level, 16 participants from high school level, and 10 participants from university level.
“There are a lot of enthusiasts who want to participate in this festival. However, due to considerations of time and place, we are only accepted 40 participants,†she explained.
According to Dewanti, the winners will receive trophy, certificate and money. “The spectators will be charged a fee of Rp. 10.000 per person,†said Dewanti. (usa)