Two female students from the Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture UGM, also enlivened the closing ceremony of the Summer Course on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture 2024 (SC-STA 2024) on Friday, 23 August 2024 by performing regional art ,Warak Dug Der dance. This Summer Course event was held by the UGM Faculty of Agriculture to introduce the cocoa processing process to 20 overseas students from the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Japan and Yemen.
The two talented dancers were Williana Arshanda, student of the Aquaculture Study Program (2022), and Dyah Ayu Sofiana Sukowati, student of the Aquatic Resources Management Study Program (2022). This performance was presented in front of international students who took part in the program.
The Warak Dug Der dance is a creative dance from Semarang, Central Java which depicts enthusiasm and togetherness in welcoming the holy month of Ramadhan. This dance is usually performed in groups and displays the symbol of “Warak”, a mythological animal that is paraded around as part of the traditions of the Semarang people.
This dance performance was a special moment for the international participants, giving them the opportunity to witness the rich culture of the archipelago in addition to learning about tropical agriculture which was the main focus of SC-STA 2024.
For Dyah and Arshanda, perfoming regional arts was nothing new. Both of them had often appeared in various traditional arts performances. However, this time there was a special pride for them, because they were able to present the Warak Dug Der dance in front of foreign students at the SC-STA 2024 event.
“I’m really happy and proud to be able to introduce and perform Indonesian culture to friends from abroad,” said Arshanda.
The Warak Dug Der dance performance at the closing event also marked the end of the Summer Course activities which lasted for several days with various educational activities and field visits. The foreign students who were present also gave warm appreciation for this performance, and it created a memorable moment for all those present.
Through this activity, Faculty of Agriculture UGM also supports the achievement of the SDGs, especially SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnership for The Goals.
Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Documentation: Media Faperta