RAMPOE dance group from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) will be the only representative from Indonesia in the international stage through Cultural Diplomacy Mission in the 2018 Taiwan Lantern Festival, held at Chiayi, Taiwan, from 28 February – 4 March 2018.
The programme is the implementation of cooperation between Rampoe UGM and Tourism Bureau, Republic of Taiwan.
“We hope Indonesia can be more renowned in the world. The 2018 Taiwan Lantern Festival is an international festival that has started since 1990,” said deputy of Rampoe UGM, Rizaldi Budi Hastomo, at UGM on Monday (12/2)
Rizaldi Budi Hastomo said the Rampoe UGM would send 42 delegates consisting of 38 talents, a director, a manager, and two officials. There are five dances to be performed in the main stage, namely Seudati, Ratoeh Jaroe, Rateb Meusekat, Rapa’i Geleng and Tarek Pukat.
Yorri Harlyandra, manager of the team, said the team had prepared for three months for the event. The team currently has 264 student members.
Sella Kresna, public relations officer of Rampoe UGM, said their participation in the festival was to promote Indonesian culture in the international event. Sella Khresna said Rampoe UGM was the best and most productive talent organisation of Universitas Gadjah Mada. It continues to promote cultural diplomacy of Indonesia to the world.
So far, Rampoe UGM group has earned 25 national and international awards since 2010. It has joined cultural events in Malaysia (2011, 2014 and 2016), Belgium (2013 and 2014), France (2014), Taiwan (2016), Spain (2016), and Czech Republic (2016).
“This year Rampoe UGM plans to hold a festival and competition of traditional dances as well as do cultural diplomacy in the Middle East and Europe,” she added.