SMA Al - Azhar 1 Jakarta is participated on cultural mission in the city of Zamosc, Poland on July 12 to 17, 2016. The festival is attended by eight countries, namely Montenegro, Ecuador, Indonesia, Israel, Latvia, Serbia, Slovakia and Poland. Indonesia represented by AL-Azhar 1 Senior High School that included 34 members as a dancers and musicians, three teachers, and one person Representative from CIOFF Indonesia, Lydia Lestari Utami.

 

 

After the process of training for approximately 4 months prior to attending this festival, they finally will feature seven varieties of dances: Greget Jawara dance, Topeng dance, Genjring Party dance, Yapong dance, Mandau dance, Medley of Enggang and Balian dance, and also Saman dance. They also feature singing some Indonesian folk songs like Kambanglah Bungo, Sinanggar Tulo, Alusiau and others.

 

 

After the arrival, each State representatives were invited to meet the Mayor of the Local with using the traditional dress to introduce each culture characteristic. And in the evening, they invited to the Opening Ceremony that held at the Great Market Square, which is filled by the appearance of the host itself, from Warsaw University of Poland. All participants of the festival also participated in the parade which has to walk around Zamosc towns using traditionals costumes while showing some little dances movement and singing some songs during the parade and continued to perform on stage. When finished performing on stage, they are also asked to follow the activities of Folk Party which was held in the arena of the Great Market Square with dancing to the music while interacting directly with local people.

Indonesia honored to perform in one of the Old Town for approximately 30 minutes. Al-Azhar 1 SHS then perfomed Genjring Party dance, Yapong dance, Greget Jawara dance, Topeng dance, Saman dance, and also the contemporary music. The audience is amazed with their performance and wondered to learn the dance movement. They also interact with the local people and get captured by many local journalist.

Another memorable experiences is when all delegations is participated in the Mass. After the Mass is finished, all festival delegates also welcomed to singing their own songs. Indonesia itself was sung Indonesia Pusaka solemnly  and they successfuly amazed all participants of the Mass in the church of the Zamosc Cathedral. After that, they also singing along together with other festival participants from other countries in the area of ​​the Great Market Square. Al-Azhar 1 SHS bring the popular thousand hands Saman dance from Aceh for their last performance in the Finale Concert which followed by thunderous applause by the entire audience.

Written : Lydia Lestari Utami

Edited and published by : Ghina Aulia Megaputri