Photo: The Folklore Seminar entitled “What is Folklore for Us Today?” at the Video Conference Room, Citta Kelangen Building, ISI BALI, Thursday (24 September).
Institut Seni Indonesia Bali (ISI BALI) served as one of the venues for the 2026 Nusantara International Folklore Festival (NIFF) through a Folklore Seminar entitled “What is Folklore for Us Today?”. The seminar explored the relevance of folklore in contemporary society and was held at the Video Conference Room, Citta Kelangen Building, ISI BALI, on Thursday (24 September).
The seminar was opened by Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Cooperation of ISI BALI, Prof. Dr. I Komang Sudirga. The event featured Indonesian dance maestro and choreographer Didik Nini Thowok, as well as Dr. I Kadek Widnyana, SPP., M.Si., Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Cooperation and lecturer in the Puppetry Study Program, Faculty of Performing Arts, ISI BALI. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Nungki Kusumastuti, an artist and cultural arts practitioner.
The seminar addressed questions concerning the position and relevance of folklore amid the transformations taking place in contemporary society. Folklore was not viewed merely as a cultural heritage inherited from the past, but also as a form of knowledge and cultural expression that remains alive, continues to evolve, and acquires new meanings over time.
Photo: The Folklore Seminar entitled “What is Folklore for Us Today?” at the Video Conference Room, Citta Kelangen Building, ISI BALI, Thursday (24 September).
The participation of Didik Nini Thowok provided a perspective grounded in his extensive experience in the performing arts and the development of Indonesian dance traditions. Meanwhile, an academic perspective was contributed by Dr. I Kadek Widnyana, whose expertise encompasses both scholarly inquiry and artistic practice in the field of performing arts.
The discussion was particularly relevant in the context of NIFF 2026, which brings together traditional arts from various regions of Indonesia with artistic groups from several countries. The festival positions folklore as a space for cultural encounters and as a medium through which communities can explore identity, knowledge, and stories that continue to live within society.
NIFF 2026 carries the theme “Global Rhythms, Shared Stories” and takes place in Bali from 25–28 September 2026. The festival brings together participants from Indonesia and several other countries, including Japan, Poland, Thailand, and New Zealand. Its program encompasses performances, workshops, and various cultural exchange activities.
ISI BALI’s involvement in the NIFF 2026 program broadens the space for dialogue among academics, artists, practitioners, and cultural communities. The seminar “What is Folklore for Us Today?” also provided an opportunity to reconsider how folklore can continue to be understood and developed while maintaining its connection to the cultural roots of the communities from which it emerges.
(ISI BALI/Public Relations)
