The Dance Art Education Study Program, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), organized UNNES Menari 2025 as a commemoration of World Dance Day 2025 at Kampung Budaya Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Carrying the theme “From the Granary to the Stage: Folk Dance as a Trace of Civilization,” this event showcased a variety of folk dances from various regions in Indonesia.
The event began around 12:00 WIB, featuring Dance Art Education students performing several traditional dances, such as the Gondorio Dance as the opening act, followed by the Lengger Serayu Dance from Banyumas. The Topeng Ireng Magelang Dance was the third performance. This dance involved four women and one man dressed in purple. The dance incorporated a modern song towards the end, successfully energizing the stage and inspiring the audience to join in dancing.
A unique performance came from the Sukowati Dance by the UNNES Javanese Arts Student Activity Unit (UKM Kesenian Jawa UNNES), where one of the dancers wore a hijab, reflecting the diversity of expression in performing arts. Other showcased dances included the Topeng Lengger Wonosobo Dance, the Idakep Temanggungan Dance, and the Sumunar Endah Lengger Dance from the Swatantra Wonosobo Community. In addition to featuring dances from off-campus communities, UNNES lecturers showcased their talents during the evening session, which began around 19:00 WIB. One of the lecturers from the Dance Art Education program performed the Remo Dance.
An equally captivating performance was presented by the Samin Edan community from Blora, featuring the barongan (a lion-like creature), jaranan (horse dance), and buto (giant) attractions. The evening atmosphere became even more lively when the Topeng Ireng Sekar Wangi Lestari community invited the audience to sing along to national songs, such as “Ibu Pertiwi” (Motherland) and “Tanah Airku” (My Homeland), during their dance, which concluded with the regional song “Manuk Dadali.” As the closing performance, the Langen Budi Setyo Utama community presented a kuda lumping (flat horse dance) performed by male dancers.
Through UNNES Menari 2025, the Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) UNNES celebrated World Dance Day, using the theme of folk dance as a manifestation of cultural diversity and national identity. Coordinator of the Dance Art Education Study Program, Dr. Eny Kusumastuti, M.Pd., stated that UNNES Menari has become a flagship program of her department every year. She expressed her gratitude to the leadership of UNNES for their continuous support, which has allowed this event to be held annually.
The Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) UNNES, Prof. Dr. Tommi Yuniawan, M.Hum., mentioned that UNNES Menari has become an icon of his faculty. Looking ahead, he hopes this activity will garner more interest and attract a wider audience while also serving as a promotional event for FBS UNNES. “This is our commitment to continuously develop and advance the nation’s culture,” he said. (Ika Rizki Refima Putri/Student Staff Humas FBS/*)
