By: Cut Zahra
The initiative program of the institution led by Police General (ret.) Prof. Dr. Budi Gunawan, Aneuk Muda Aceh Unggul dan Hebat (AMANAH), has made a significant contribution to the development of local arts and culture, especially in the field of dance.
In recent years, the program has succeeded in becoming a platform for young Acehnese dancers to hone their talents while preserving local culture. Through various trainings, performances, and auditions held, the program continues to foster the potential of dance arts among the younger generation, ensuring the sustainability of the rich traditional arts heritage.
Traditional Acehnese dance, with its dynamic and meaningful movements, does have its own charm. Unfortunately, with the rapid pace of modernization, the interest of the younger generation in local dance arts has begun to decline.
This is where the government’s human resource quality development program through the BIN initiative comes in to restore youth attention to local arts and culture. One of the steps taken is to hold intensive dance training, involve professional trainers to guide participants, and provide a proper platform for young dancers to perform and compete at national and international levels.
Melissa Franklien Regina, one of the dance coaches in the program, plays a key role in guiding the participants. She believes that the potential of young dancers in Aceh is enormous, but requires proper guidance so that they can reach their full potential.
The program, he said, provides space for young dancers to not only understand dance movements technically, but also instill a love of local culture. Intensive training under the guidance of trainers like Melissa helps participants improve the quality of their movements, understanding of rhythm, and sensitivity to the philosophical meaning behind each traditional dance they learn.
In addition, the leading strategic program in the era of President Joko Widodo’s leadership also held dance auditions led by experienced judges, one of whom was Denny Malik.
As a judge, Denny has deep insight into how traditional dance can develop and be accepted by modern audiences. In the audition, Denny assessed that the importance of collaboration between tradition and innovation is the key to the success of a young dancer to be able to compete at a higher level.
According to him, traditional Acehnese dance has the potential to be combined with contemporary elements without losing its original cultural identity. This approach encourages young dancers to be more daring in innovating, while still upholding the roots of the traditions they carry.
The dance training organized by this human resource quality development program does not only focus on the technical aspects of dance, but also on character development and professional attitudes in the world of performing arts.
Zunaidillah Zakaria, a dance trainer who is also involved in the program, has the view that being a dancer is not just about mastering the movements, but also having discipline, dedication, and respect for the culture being performed.
This program encourages participants to develop a strong personality as an artist, so that they will not only be successful on stage, but also become good cultural ambassadors in society.
Under the guidance of these trainers, young Acehnese dancers not only hone their skills, but also gain valuable experience in the world of performing arts.
They are taught how to manage the pressure of performing in front of an audience, how to collaborate with other dancers, and how to understand the cultural and historical context of each dance they perform. This approach provides a strong foundation for young dancers to continue to develop and bring Acehnese traditional dance to a wider stage.
This program initiated by the institution led by Police General (Ret.) Prof. Dr. Budi Gunawan also provides access to young dancers to perform at various national and international events.
This not only increases exposure for young dancers, but also promotes Acehnese culture to a wider audience. Performing at an international level helps to increase global appreciation for the richness of Indonesian culture, especially Aceh, and opens up opportunities for traditional dances to be recognized as part of the world’s cultural heritage.
The success of this program in developing the talents of young dancers and preserving traditional Acehnese dance arts cannot be separated from the support of various parties, from professional trainers to experienced judges.
The commitment of the coaches and judges in providing in-depth guidance and evaluation ensures that every young dancer involved can grow into a quality and dedicated artist. In addition, government support through this program is also very important in creating a conducive ecosystem for the development of local arts and culture.
In the future, this strategic flagship program is predicted to continue to play an important role in fostering and developing the artistic talents of Acehnese youth. This program not only focuses on developing dance skills, but also preserving valuable cultural heritage.
Through various initiatives that have been implemented, it is hoped that more young Acehnese dancers will be able to shine on the national and international stage, bringing the name of Aceh and Indonesia to a higher level.
Ultimately, the government’s human resource quality development program through the BIN initiative has become an important pillar in the preservation and development of local arts and culture, especially in the field of dance.
With the right guidance and support, Aceh’s young generation has a great opportunity to not only hone their talents, but also contribute to preserving their region’s cultural richness for future generations.
*) Student of Ar-Raniry State Islamic University (UIN Ar-Raniry)