Indonesian Dance Wins International Competition in Bulgaria

London (Antara Bali) - Saman dance from Indonesia, which was displayed by the Kencana Pradipa Dance Team of the Psychological department of University of Indonesia (UI), won the 2017 Folklore of the World Championship Grand Prix in Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria.

The Indonesian team also won gold medal in the Folklore Ensembles category and Folklore Instrumental Group, First Secretary to the Information, Social and Cultural affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia, Nurul Sofia, told Antara here on Monday.

On the final night, the Indonesian team of around 30 people competed with participants from Latvia, Russia, Croatia, Moldova, and Bulgaria.

The Saman dance was performed with exciting choreography, while singing and moving their hands and heads simultaneously, and shifting to create other formations such as letter V, three small groups, and then back to the original position that made the audience applaud the performance.

In the meantime, Indonesian ambassador to Bulgaria, Sri Astari Rasjid, expressed her pride and appreciation for the Kencana Pradipa Dance Team that brought the name of the nation on an international level.

According to the dance coach Donny Yoshinda, a total of four dances, including the Saman dance from Aceh, Wanoja Bentang Dance from Sunda, Tembang Kembang Selaras from Betawi (Jakarta), and Papeda Dance from Papua, were prepared ahead of the competition. (WDY)