Suara Indonesia Workshop

Students from 7 Bass and 7 Stingray had the opportunity to view a performance and participate in a workshop of Indonesian dance, delivered by the highly accomplished and talented duo of Alfira and Pak Mur. Many of the dances originate from the Aceh province of West Sumatra, where Pak Mur grew up. After the tsunami of 2004, he spent several years teaching these dances to the locals whose home had been devastated, as way of restoring traditions and strengthening community.

Among the dances, and a favourite of the students, was Randai, a dance which involved wearing ‘percussive’ pants. The pants, when stretched apart by the knees, form a surface like the skin of a drum, which students were able to beat with their open hands.

Aside from the learning of these dances, students were also given the opportunity to practise their Indonesian language skills and learn more about our near neighbour, which is going to be an integral part of Australia’s future.