The Aceh art group of Universitas Gadjah Mada (SAKA UGM) is a dance community established by a group of students studying at Universitas Gadjah Mada that want to preserve Indonesian traditional arts, particularly from Aceh. Starting on 27 May 2011, SAKA has grown into an Acehnese dance group already well-known internally at UGM or beyond.
Despite its young age, SAKA UGM has made some achievements, including first national winner during the Gadjah Mada Econolympic 2015 hosted by Faculty of Economics and Business UGM, first winner in the Singapore International Art Festival 2013, also Highest Online Presence Award as well as Chief Minister Award in Sabah International Folklore Festival in 2014, in addition to a festival in Jogja.
Head of UGM Sub-directorate for Student Creativity, Ahmad Agus Setiawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., said SAKA had been elected Indonesian representative in the International Festival of Folklore and International Art Festival Prague Stars 2015 in November 2015 to be held in Prague, Czech Republic.
“During the two festivals, SAKA will present two dances, Rampoe and Saman Gayo dances. They will be performed by male and female teams separately,” said Agus.
As a warming up for the international events, SAKA has recently performed at a reunion gathering of Universitas Gadjah Mada alumni in Jakarta, which was attended by State Secretary Pratikno, Public Housing and Public Works Minister, Basuki Hadimuljono, Education Minister, Anies Baswedan, Rector of UGM, Prof. Dwikorita Karnawati as well as President Director of PT. Angkasa Pura II, Budi Karya Gunadi.