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With blockbuster movies, video games and the Internet competing for their attention, do young Indonesians even have time for traditional dance? If you were to ask Ratu Nabila, 22, her answer would be yes.

Nabila and her friends think that performing and practicing traditional dance is just the type of social activity that would appeal to young people in Indonesia if only they would take the time to set aside their remote controls and give it a try.

According to Nabila, there is always something new to learn about traditional dance. “Unlike contemporary dance or ballet, our traditional dances are literally down to earth,” she said.

“Traditional dance has taught me that our culture is communal and comes from the Earth and that’s something I can relate to. Most dances are forms of giving thanks to nature and must be performed in groups.”

Nabila co-founded Lasavina Workshop with her friends Sabrina, Yovika and Bunga to explore the benefits of traditional dance. They all have regular jobs during the week, but make time to pursue their passion on Sundays.

A visit to one of their dance classes was all it took to see the communal, earthy vibe of which Nabila spoke of.

The mood was social and relaxed, but once the dancing started, there was a focused energy that one typically finds among people who pursue what they love.

“It’s fun because we have been friends for a long time,” said Dinda Citrini Pramudiawardhani, a member of the workshop. “We always go out for coffee or watch movies after we dance,” she added.

Dinda said that the feeling of accomplishment and the sense of friendship was what drew her to the group. “It’s addictive,” she said.

Many of Lasavina’s founders are also active members of the International Council of Organization of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) and have travelled all over the world to perform Indonesian traditional dance in Hungary, Spain, Italy, China and Germany.

They established Lasavina earlier this year as a way of enjoying their craft in a relaxed setting.

“When I created the school, I wanted to set up something permanent so that those with a passion for dance have a place to keep learning and improving,” Nabila said.

While the idea is to master and promote traditional dance, having fun is also a big part of the agenda. The group has 10 regular members who take part in the dance workshops and is on the lookout for more young recruits.

“We created the workshop out of our common passion and we welcome anyone interested in working with us to master the art,” Nabila said.

Students at Lasavina can expect to learn a variety of traditional Indonesian dances, from Aceh and Sumatra to Java, Betawi, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

Nabila said that they had just finished rehearsing the Acehnese dance Pukat and were now working on Saman, also from the same region.

Saman is a popular dance where 20 performers kneel in a row and move their torso in different ways while singing, clapping and slapping their hands on the floor.

Nabila said that the hardest part of mastering Saman is synchronizing moves with other dancers. All the movements begin slowly and gradually increase in tempo.

The action can suddenly stop on certain counts. The performance can only be learned through hours of practice and repetition.

“Next week, we’re going to learn a form of dance from Padang,” Nabila said.

At the moment, Lasavina is offering two classes on Sunday that she conducts with her friends.

She is hoping that the Lasavina group will be able to continue to add members who share a not only a passion for traditional dance, but also for having fun while working toward a common goal.

A post on the group’s microblogging site Twitter nicely sums up how a traditional art form is still bringing joy to people in modern times: “Good morning Sunday, good morning people. Lasavina members prepare for our lesson today!”

It might even be enough to make you want to turn off your TV and dance.


Sanggar Lasavina (Lasavina Workshop) Jl. RC Veteran Kav A4 No. 68, Tanah Kusir, Bintaro, South Jakarta.  For more information, email: ratudewi@gmail.com.