Performances and workshops highlight Indonesian dance traditions at Singapore’s three-day Muara Festival.
Indonesian performers are taking part in Muara Festival 2026 at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore from 13 to 15 November, presenting dance traditions from the Malay Archipelago and Yogyakarta. The three-day programme includes free performances by PLS Pelangi Budaya Studio, a Javanese dance workshop by Ritinari Karya Indonesia and a main showcase featuring artists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
For visitors, one of the most accessible introductions to these traditions is Pesona Seni Karimun, presented by Indonesia’s PLS Pelangi Budaya Studio at Esplanade Concourse. Its repertoire moves between ceremonial dance, regional choreography and music, before inviting spectators to participate.
The programme opens with Tari Persembahan, a welcoming dance expressing hospitality, followed by a creative interpretation of zapin and the song Anugerah Kepri. Other pieces include Tarian Nusantara, Tari Mak Inang Pulau Kampai and Zapin Melayu. The concluding Joget Lambak offers a different experience: rather than remaining spectators, audience members are invited to join the Malay social dance.
The free Concourse performances are scheduled daily at 6.30pm and 8pm, with each performance lasting approximately 30 minutes.
Indonesian participation also extends beyond the stage. On Sunday, 15 November, Ritinari Karya Indonesia will lead a workshop introducing Tari Nawung Sekar, a classical dance from Yogyakarta inspired by a flower in bloom. Participants will learn movements including sembahan, kengser, trisik and kicat. The two-hour session begins at 11am at Esplanade Annexe Studio and is free with registration.
Meanwhile, the Muara Festival Main Showcase will feature invited Indonesian and Malaysian groups alongside Singaporean performers at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Friday’s Muara Bergema opens the three-night programme, while Saturday’s Zapin D’Muara focuses on zapin in support of Singapore’s application for UNESCO recognition of the dance form as intangible cultural heritage. Sunday’s Martabat Budaya closes the showcase with invited groups, collaborative pieces and emerging performers.
Live music will accompany the dancers at the Main Showcase, returning as a feature for the first time since 2022. Free performances are scheduled at 7.30pm and 9.15pm each evening.
Presented by Era Dance Theatre in collaboration with Esplanade as part of its Pentas series, the festival offers different ways to experience cultural heritage, from watching established performers to learning traditional movements. For Indonesian artists, those opportunities extend their work beyond the performance itself, allowing Singapore audiences to encounter traditions that continue to be taught, practised and shared.
Source: Esplanade Singapore
