A vibrant and spirited atmosphere filled Sopo Daganak on Saturday, 20 July 2025, as hundreds of children from Sanggar Seni Sopo Daganak (SANIPODA) showcased their finest talents in the “Sumatera Swarna Dwipa Cultural Performance.” Initiated by the Perkumpulan Sahabat Cerdas (PERSADA) and SANIPODA, this event served as a special platform for 225 children to express themselves through traditional dances, music, and songs from across the Sumatran archipelago, while also providing an engaging spectacle for more than 700 attendees.
The event commenced with a lively parade of all participants, followed by an expressive opening dance performance designed to offer children the freedom to perform without fear of imperfection. The celebration continued with a non-stop medley of dance and music collaborations, further enlivened by a guest performance from Karya Lestari Dance Community (KLDC), a previous winner of the 2023 Sopo Daganak Dance Festival. In addition to the stage performances, the series of activities also included two days of inter–Taman Baca Anak (TBA/Children’s Reading Gardens) competitions featuring categories such as best TBA, English singing, poetry recitation, and storytelling.
This cultural showcase marked the emergence of young talents such as Zahra Nabila Siregar and Nurul Padila, who began their artistic journey with SANIPODA at the age of five. Beyond mastering dance, they have achieved national recognition and are now pursuing higher education at leading universities with scholarships from Agincourt Resources. “We didn’t just learn to dance, we also made friends from various villages and cultural backgrounds,” shared Zahra and Nurul. Zahra is now enrolled in the Art and Culture Education program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), while Nurul is pursuing a degree in Dance Education at Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED).
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The Head of the South Tapanuli Education Office, representing the Regent of South Tapanuli Arman Pasaribu, emphasised the importance of instilling a love for local culture from an early age and extended appreciation to Agincourt Resources for its active role in preserving Batak cultural heritage.
A similar sentiment was expressed by Christine Pepah, Senior Manager Community at Agincourt Resources, who stated, “Amid the influx of foreign cultures, Agincourt Resources is committed to safeguarding traditional values through support for informal education and cultural programs, such as TBA, training in modern and traditional music, mobile libraries, and English language classes.” More than just a cultural stage, Swarna Dwipa has become a gateway to the future, nurturing children proud to carry forward Indonesia’s rich cultural legacy.
