President Jokowi, Ibu Iriana Dance ‘Poco-poco’

President Jokowi and First Lady Ibu Iriana among the participants of ‘poco-poco’ dance to break the Guinness World Record at National Monument (Monas) area, Central Jakarta, Sunday (5/8) (Photo: PR Division/ Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana as well as Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Ibu Mufidah Jusuf Kalla danced the ‘poco-poco’ to welcome the 18^th Asian Games, on Sunday (5/8). Joined by 65,000 participants, the dance was also an attempt to break the Guiness World Record for Largest Line Dance.

The President and Vice President arrived at Monas area at 06.15 Western Indonesian Time and directly headed to the stage. Before the dance started, all participants sang the national anthem Indonesia Raya and rehearsed the dance twice.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Let’s dance ‘poco-poco’. I hope all of us and all citizens are in good health, and our country is strong. Thank you,” the President said.

Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, in his report, stated  the ‘poco-poco’ dance was danced by 65,000 people as well as 1,500 dance instructors, and supported by 5,000 committees.

The Minister also handed over several awards to Arie Sapulette (the songwriter of ‘poco-poco’), Yopie Latul (a singer who makes the ‘poco-poco’ song popular), the late Els Kaunang Isman (the founder of the Nusantara Poco-Poco Dance (SP2N) Competition), Mamik Sutadji (a cultural expert and the first coreographer of SP2N), and Dr. Lily Greta Karmel (founder of SP2N who continues to develop and preserve the ‘poco-poco’ dance).

Also participating in this event were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Social Affairs Idrus Marham, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Gen. Tito Karnavian, Commander of the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, Minister of Health Nila Moeloek, Speaker of Regional Representatives Council Oesman Sapta Odang, Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan, ambassadors of friendly countries, and committees of OASE (the Solidarity Organization of the Working Cabinet). (DNA/ES) (MMB/YM/Naster)