Gema Puspa Nusantara (GPN) is a group of mainly Indonesian students currently attending Austrian schools or universities in Vienna, as well as families of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia. Its main goal and mission is to introduce and to promote the Indonesian culture to the people abroad. A goal that has been successfully achieved since its founding in mid-2001 as its members have now expanded to Austrian students, who are interested to know more of the vibrant culture of Indonesia.
It has also become a goal for the members of the group, who were born and raised or who have lived most of their lives out of the country, to restore and to live up to the culture of their home. GPN is supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia as its main sponsor, and has performed in various events all over Austria and its neighboring countries, such as Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, all of which were successful performances that left a lasting impression on the audience.
Gema Puspa Nusantara was founded in 2001 by Mira Marina Soerjanatamihardja who has also been the teacher of the group. The team started with only few dancers and organizers and performed Piring Dance for the very first time in Austria with great success.
When Mrs. Soerjanatamihardja went for good to Indonesia, Gema Puspa Nusantara was left to manage after itself. The responsibility was then on the hands of the young members, under the guidance of the Indonesian Embassy. Slowly but surely, they were able to teach each other, organize themselves to carry out the task of promoting the Indonesian culture, and hold several profound performances, for example at the “Theater Akzent” in Vienna, and at the “Haus der Kulturen der Welt” in Berlin.
Throughout the years, GPN has gained members and the knowledge of dancing. The group now has known approximately 30 different dances from various provinces in Indonesia, and has continued to develop the techniques of traditional dancing to maintain a high level of performance.
Gema Puspa Nusantara means ‘Flowery Echo from the Islands’
