GIANYAR, balitourismnow.com – The Ardhanari Dharma Citta Foundation proudly presents the Nusantara International Folklore Festival (NIFF) 2025, held at Arma Museum & Resort in Ubud.
The festival serves as a cross-cultural meeting ground, celebrating the diversity of world traditions while strengthening global connections through the performing arts.
This year, NIFF aims to welcome 1,000 live audiences, with the participation of 100 international performers, 200 national performers, 20 SMEs, and 30 cultural volunteers.
Following the success of the Jakarta International Folklore Festival (JIFF) 2019, which featured 28 groups from 8 countries, the founders are now continuing that spirit independently through NIFF.
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This year’s program features dance and music performances, cultural parades, exhibitions, and workshops with international masters of traditional arts.
“NIFF is not just a stage for performances, but a meeting ground where tradition and innovation intersect, and where cultural stories from around the world can be shared, understood, and celebrated together,” said Festival Director Sita Tyasutami.
Artistic Director Maria Darmaningsih, co-founder of the Indonesian Dance Festival, emphasized the importance of celebrating folklore as a cultural legacy.
“Folklore is not only rooted in the people but also in the palaces. Even everyday expressions are part of folklore—that is what we want to bring to life at NIFF,” she said.
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Renowned dance maestro Didik Nini Thowok, famous for his cross-gender mask dances, shared that his involvement stems from friendship and spiritual ties with Bali. “Since I studied mask dance from Bali, Cirebon, and Malang, I have always felt I have a home here,” he said.
Support also came from the host, Agung Yudi (ARMA), who described the festival as a new spark for Bali: “ARMA is a living museum, a public space for people to gather and create. This festival ensures Bali remains a center of arts and culture connected to the world.”
A Joyous Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony on 25 September 2025 was a vibrant celebration, inaugurated by Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Culture, Giring Ganesha.
The opening ritual was conducted alongside Sita Tyasutami (Festival Director), Agung Rai (Founder of ARMA), Jasmine Okubo (Festival Curator), and Budhi Suryanata (Festival Producer).
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They struck bamboo maracas, followed by the entire audience who joined in shaking their own maracas. The moment became a symbol of unity and togetherness, perfectly reflecting this year’s theme Global Rhythms, Shared Stories.
Day One Performances (25 September 2025)
The first day of NIFF 2025 opened with a stirring lineup of cross-cultural performances. Angklung Orkestra Indonesia from Jakarta set the tone with the resonant harmony of bamboo instruments, followed by Tarki Nari, a Jakarta-based dance group whose energetic choreography drew from urban folklore.
A unique cross-border dialogue emerged through the collaboration of SVCC x Sangamam Global Academy, blending traditions from India and Bali on one stage.
From East Java, Sakratrinata Dance Troupe of Malang showcased the richness of local dance, while Kerta Art from Bali reimagined traditional roots with contemporary flair.
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A special collaboration between the NIFF Committee & ARMA underscored the synergy between the organizers and the festival’s host venue.
The evening’s highlights included a masterful duet by Didik Nini Thowok and Maria Darmaningsih, as well as a striking collaboration between Ni Nyoman Sudewi and musician Noizekilla, bridging classical Balinese dance with modern rhythms.
The collective spirit was also felt in performances by Komunitas Perempuan Menari (Women Dance Community) from Jakarta and Mitra Tari Hadiprana, both championing empowerment and community aesthetics.
From eastern Indonesia, Mada Ntana Dance Troupe of Dompu brought the vibrancy of Sumbawa traditions, followed by the Missmala Dance Crew from Cirebon, whose urban style remained rooted in local heritage.
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The global stage was further enriched by Billy Chang from Taiwan, presenting innovative artistry with East Asian influences, and Kōkō Tangiwai from New Zealand, whose performance carried the soulful spirit of the Pacific.
Day One of NIFF 2025 unfolded as a true cultural mosaic—each performance not merely entertainment, but a weaving of stories, identities, and shared encounters on the Ubud stage.
Other notable figures supporting NIFF 2025 include Prof. I Wayan Dibia, Dr. Ni Nyoman Sudewi, and curators Bhisma Wrhaspati and Eriza Trihapsari, who together form the creative backbone of the festival.
With the theme Global Rhythms, Shared Stories, NIFF is envisioned to grow into an annual international festival that celebrates the richness of Nusantara’s traditional arts in dialogue with the world. [pran]