Yogyakarta, August 14, 2025 - Department of Dance, Faculty of Performing Arts, Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta received a visit from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). The group amounted to 4 lecturers and education staff and 30 students across disciplines, from law, science & technology, da'wah, to English.
From morning until noon, the activities were full of enthusiasm. The agenda began with a meeting between USIM lecturers and the Dance Department to explore the possibility of academic cooperation and the signing of the IA. Meanwhile, USIM students toured the campus: getting to know and trying to play gamelan at the Karawitan Department, taking pictures with the sculpture works on display at the Department of Dance. Yogyakarta International Contemporary Art Festival (YICAF) #3, including statues Dewi Saraswati the icon of ISI Yogyakarta. They also visited the Department of Ethnomusicology, met the Department Secretary and lecturers, got to know various ethnic music instruments of the archipelago.
In the Dance Department, the workshop started with Malaysian Zapin dance, This event involved USIM students along with 11 ISI Dance students. Followed by flashmob Dancing Together by MBKM student Woh Gama (2023), which combines elements of Yogyakarta folk dance: Angguk, Badui, and Montro. ISI Dance students became instructors, creating an interactive cross-cultural learning atmosphere.
The afternoon session closed with art performance. USIM students performed song, dance, poetry, and pencak silat. From ISI Yogyakarta came the works of “Janger Abhinaya” Retrieved Ni Kadek Rai Dewi Astini, M.Sn. and Beksan Wanara which was energetic. This cultural encounter ended with West Thinking together, performed by all USIM and ISI lecturers and students. Sitting side by side, the atmosphere of togetherness and camaraderie was palpable, demonstrating the spirit of art as a universal language that unites.
This visit is expected to be the beginning of closer collaboration between ISI Yogyakarta and USIM in the fields of arts, culture, and interdisciplinary education.
