Saman dance Performance Awes Norwegian Community

London, (Antara) - Indonesian children from Aceh Province awed the Norwegian audience with a Saman dance performance during the "Barnas Verdensdager" (World Children Festival) held at the Oslo Cultural Center over the weekend.

"The Saman dance, performed by Indonesian children, was part of the participation of the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo and the Indonesian Pavilion in the festival," embassy spokesperson Dilla Triant informed Antara in London on Monday.

She stated that the Indonesian Pavilion also organized the Saman dance workshop, Angklung traditional music workshop, and some traditional Indonesian games for the Norwegian community.

According to Triant, the public, including children, in Norway were mesmerized by the Saman dance and Angklung music performances during the festival in Oslo.

"Barnas Verdensdager" Festival is an annual event held as part of the Oslo World Music Festival by the Rikskonsertene Norwegian Institute for Cultural Arts that aims to introduce the children to the diversity of art and culture around the world through methods of learning through play.

Indonesian Ambassador to Norway Yuwono A. Putranto remarked that with the increasing number of people migrating to the country, the Norwegian government has built and strengthened multicultural awareness of its citizens.

"And, this festival in a positive step to increase multicultural awareness among the Norwegian citizens," he remarked.

He noted that the Indonesian children put in their best efforts to enthrall the audience with Saman dance, a variety of art and cultural performances, and hospitality to make it a memorable event for all.

According to Putranto, cultural interaction among the Indonesian students and the Norwegian community during their study in Norway will help to introduce Indonesia to a larger community.

Putranto noted that the participation of the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo in the festival was part of effective Indonesian cultural diplomacy.(*)