Sebelas Maret University (UNS Solo) always tries to keep the position as the university concerning cultures and arts. In its celebration of 35th anniversary, UNS has arranged many events since the end of February until the end of March; and most of them have the touch of cultures and arts. UNS created event "Javanology Declaration", March 6 as the starting point to declare that UNS will be more proactive as centre to preserve Javanese cultural heritage and arts. It was colored by the amazing performance of 30ReogMask performers, gamelan music with the combination style between Central Java and East Java, and colossal Hanoman (the Ramayana epic's white monkey) dance. In the official anniversary meeting, March 11, UNS opened the events with beautiful ladies performing old Javanese dance. Yes, all are with the touch of cultures and arts.
The peak of UNS Anniversary celebration was Collaboration of Arts, March 28 entitled "3035". It was obviously the collaboration of various arts and cultures and organized completely by UNS students' organizations including choir group "Voca Erudita", traditional art group "BKKT (Badan Koordinasi Kesenian Tradisional) ", and marching band group. UNS international students also participated. Vietnam student, Tran Thi Thuy Tien performed Vietnamese Song and Dance, while student from Hong Kong, Chung Wing Yeung got involved in choir group. [caption id="attachment_99822" align="aligncenter" width="309" caption="Chung Wing Yeung from Hong Kong joined the choir group. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"][/caption]
Audiences were welcomed by the rocking music from marching band group as the opening performance. The harmony of music was beautified by the dancers who attractively played the huge flags by making very active movements. The atmosphere suddenly changed into more cultural when girl students came to perform Javanese traditional dance. They looked elegant, but strong inside since they played very well the arrow and keris. Complete series of Gamelan were played by the students, too, to be the musical background of dance. Soon after the traditional dance finished, the image of year 3035 was built by the break-dance performance that could bring audiences into more modern atmosphere. After three performances, the conversation of the story was started showing a school in 3035 with the students wearing funny colorful uniforms. School was portrayed to be very fun. They made jokes each other even with teacher. It became more attractive since the Vietnam student of the school sang and dance together with all students. The background of the stage showed the images of tourism attractions in Vietnam.
[caption id="attachment_99825" align="aligncenter" width="214" caption="Tran Thi Thuy Tien from Vietnam delivered Vietnamese dance and song. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"]
All students in 3035 area had entered school, except one girl named Lilin. Her parent was afraid if Lilin became untreated well as what she could get at home. However, people could ensure Lilin’s parentthat school was important for her future as the betterment for family, as well. Finally, Lilin entered the school, felt in love, and underwent conflict because the rich old person in the area tried to tempted and marry her. At the last, Lilin preferred to focus on study and luckily she got scholarship to other country. Voca Erudita choir group also could make the night more enjoyable. They sang several songs as music backgrounds on scenes including “Pergi Sekolah” remaining all audiences the childhood memory since the song was very popular in Indonesian kindergarten, “Ojo Dipleroki”, a Javanese Language song that was performed by attractive body movement from the choir group, too, and “Lilin-Lilin Kecil” that made the night became more contemplative. During that song was performed, all players brought the candles and all the lamps were turned off. While other traditional performance was dance about Arjuna who fought with four evils (in Javanese, they are called as Buto Cakil). The end was hit by marching band with instrument “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.
The player could make the conversation natural and spontaneous. They could make effective jokes and funny gestures on stage. Compared to Collaboration of Arts 2010, this year event was more creative in concept. In the previous, it was about kingdom of Java in the past, and now was mixed between tradition and modernism. However, 2010 event was easier to understand since the plots, scenarios, and transitions from one scene to other scenes were more structured. Overall Collaboration of Arts of UNS 2011 was entertaining and supporting UNS having the spirit to actively preserve culture and arts.
[caption id="attachment_99826" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Danijel Apro from Serbia took picture with Buto Cakil. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"]
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