University of Indonesia Introduces Gamelan and Balinese Dance to Japanese Students

Depok (ANTARA) - Students from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Japan, participated in an Indonesian arts and culture workshop held at the Makara Art Center of the University of Indonesia (UI) in Depok, West Java. The event was organised by the UI’s Directorate of Culture, TUAT, and the UI’s Faculty of Engineering. The workshop, entitled “Indonesian Art Cultural Workshop”, aimed to introduce the richness of the archipelago’s cultural heritage and strengthen relations through an artistic approach. The workshop was facilitated by lecturers from the UI’s Faculty of Humanities and professional artists, namely Dr. Ari Prasetyo, M.Hum., and Citra Cahyaning Sumirat, S.H., M.Pd. Participants were taught practical skills using various tools, employing a ‘learning by doing’ approach. In his opening remarks, Eko Sulistiyo, a representative from the UI’s Directorate of Culture, expressed his appreciation for the high level of enthusiasm shown by the participants. “We are delighted to host the TUAT students. Art, such as gamelan and Balinese dance, is a universal language that can bridge differences. This workshop is a tangible example of cultural diplomacy, demonstrating that Indonesian art can inspire young people from various disciplines, including agriculture and technology,” he said in a press release on Tuesday. The first session of the workshop focused on Javanese gamelan music. Participants enthusiastically learned to play instruments such as the saron, bonang, and gong, guided by Dr. Ari Prasetyo. They not only learned the techniques of playing the instruments but also gained an understanding of the philosophy behind the gentle yet harmonious music. The second session saw a change in atmosphere as the students learned Balinese Pendet and Sekar Jagat dances. Under the guidance of professional dancers, they learned basic movements such as ngelo, agem, and seledet (eye movements). Although the movements initially seemed stiff, the learning process was filled with cheerfulness and laughter as they tried to imitate the graceful gestures of the Balinese dancers. “I am an engineering student, but today I learned that precision and gentleness can be beautifully combined in Indonesian culture. This is a very valuable experience and has broadened my horizons,” said one of the participants, Yuki Tanaka, through a translator. This activity is part of an annual cultural exchange programme initiated by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Indonesia and the UI’s Directorate of Culture, in collaboration with the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Through this programme, participants are expected to become cultural ambassadors, introducing the beauty of Indonesia in their home countries. The event concluded with a group photo session and a short collaborative performance between the Japanese students and the Indonesian instructors, symbolising the harmonisation of two cultures on a stage of friendship. Copyright © ANTARA 2026 Any form of content extraction, crawling, or automated indexing for AI purposes on this website is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the ANTARA News Agency.