UNS – The annual event of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Cultural Night was coming back in this year. In this 11th anniversary, UNS Cultural Night 2019 staged performances from foreign students of 11 countries who studying at UNS, such as Laotians with Hmong Lao dance, Russians with Kalinka dance, and Japanese who played Taiko instruments.
Before entering G. P. H Haryo Mataram Building, the audiences who had exchanged their tickets got two bamboo straws and one otok-otok, an Indonesian traditional toy made of bamboo which can produce “tok-tok” sound while twirling it.
The event was opened with a mesmerizing performance from a regional community, Kabar Minang that presented West Sumatra’s folk dances, namely Tari Randai and Tari Piring. Around 15 minutes, the performance from Kabar Minang successfully hypnotized hundreds of spectators with the harmony of bamboo music and dance.
At the end of their performance, some dancers of Kabar Minang invited Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, the Rector of UNS, and Taufiq Al Makmun, the Head of UNS International Office to the stage giving their speech to open this event.
In his speech, Jamal appreciated Taufiq Al Makmun, who had initiated the UNS Cultural Night 2019. And as a sign to open this event, Jamal asked the entire audiences to twirl their otok-otok together.
UNS Cultural Night 2019 not only put on a marvelous show of folk arts from 11 countries, but this event also held a fashion show from foreign students of 13 countries, such as Burundi, Tajikistan, Libya, Egypt, and Rwanda. As a result, the award for Best Man Costume went to a foreign student from Egypt, while for Best Woman Costume was delivered to a foreign student from Japan.
Beside performing arts and fashion show, in this event, the participants could also taste various traditional foods offered by 14 countries through exchanging the vouchers that have been provided at the snack bars in the G. P. H Haryo Mataram Building. Humas UNS/ Yefta/Try
