Dancing for Life
When the 2014 National Education and Culture convention was held at the start of this month, one of the priority topics of discussion was the need to conserve traditional culture. To be more specific, to preserve the dances representing the wealth of our diverse arts and traditions sadly being neglected by the younger generation. An effort is now underway to financially support and sustain traditional dance studios all over the archipelago to make it more attractive for youths. Tempo English reports on the revival of these studios in Sumbawa, West Sumatra and Central Kalimantan.
April 1, 2014
The sounds of a gandah (two-headed hand drum), a pipiu (a wooden clarinet-like instrument), and a goh (gong) can be heard on one of the docks on tiny Bungin island, accompanying four girls as they dance. They sway back and forth in the midst of a crowd of hundreds of locals peppered with a handful of foreign tourists. Dressed in traditional lamung pene costume and bright blue sarungs, their curled fingers occasionally throw some bente (dry-roas
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