Denpasar – Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga, here on Saturday, celebrated International Dance Day, with thousands of dancers in Bali.
On the occasion, Puspayoga expressed pride over the holding of the event, as around 1,100 Sekar Jempiring dancers performed at the Dharma Negara Alaya field in Denpasar.
“It is an honor to be able to be here at this event. At the opening, there were thousands of Sekar Jempiring dancers. Twenty years ago, we initiated this in Denpasar and strove to preserve it,” she remarked.
During this year’s International Dance Day in Bali, the minister spoke of having witnessed a unique aspect of the performance during which thousands of women dancers moved simultaneously, with some senior Balinese performers also dancing alongside them.
Some legendary women dancers danced gracefully on the stage to the tunes of traditional instrument music played in the background.
“Senior dancers, such as Arini and Susilowati, who participated in the dance became a source of motivation and inspiration for the younger dancers to preserve this culture,” she affirmed.
The event called “Naluriku Menari” or “Dance is My Desire” was held for two days and eventually involved 2,500 artists, out of which two thousand were dancers.
The event’s person-in-charge, Ida Bagus Eka Harista, stated that the dancers were not only from Bali but also from Sulawesi, Sumatra, and even Canada.
“There were many dance genres, such as tango, kpop, salsa, Balinese dance to contemporary dance,” he remarked.
Responding to Minister Puspayoga’s praises heaped on the senior dancers participating in the event, Haristha, also the Naluri Manca dance community founder, said that his side provided space for senior dancers.
“At this year’s International World Dance Day, we focus on senior artists. When we reached legendary artists to include them in the documentary video, they were touched,” he remarked.
He deemed it necessary to provide a platform where dancers of all ages can meet and gather. (ANT)