DaDili (Dance Group)

Dadili

DaDili Group was established in 1997, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In that year, the founder, Joao da Costa and friends who study in Yogyakarta created the East Timor’s traditional dance in order to promote the cultural dance. DaDili group begun to present the traditional dance in many important events, including Institute Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yoygakarta, Solidamor Jakarta, Dies Natalis of Gadjah Mada University, et cetera.

In Dili, East Timor, DaDili continued to perform in various events including Closure of Nobel Cup, Closure of Fretelin Campaign in National Stadium Dili, in 2001, Radio and Television of Timor Leste, et cetera. However, due to work and study reasons, DaDili went into hiatus.

DaDili was reborn in Bristol, in the 4th of October 2014. At that time, new DaDili members were reestablished in DaDili’s first performance in an event of a visit from ambassador RDTL for England and Ireland with Timorese community in Bristol, England. Starting from that day, DaDili had an initiative to promote East Timor’s cultural dance and music with the support of the band’s founder, Ivo Beram.

The group after their recent performance

DaDili group is an independent non profit cultural group, welcoming everyone without differencing race, ethnic and religion. DaDili had performed in various events, whether locally or internationally. In 2015, DaDili performed at the Bristol Indonesian Society Bazaar Bristol; Patchway International Community Festival; Rugby Festival of Culture; Indonesian celeberation of Independence day at the Indonesian Embassy in London, et cetera. Additionally, DaDili was invited by East Timor’s Ministry of Tourism to represent East Timor by performing our cultural dance in Expo Milano, 2015. Recently, DaDili has successfully accomplished cultural dance and music at the 4th Lusofonia event, in Brussels. Generally, DaDili is able represent their cultural dance anywhere in regard to the availability of the group.

DaDili has a vision to remind and inspire Timorese people who is born outside the homeland and migrant to preserve their own identity and proud to be Timorese through traditional music and dance.

In order to establish their vision, DaDili has structured its organisation in February 2016, by selecting General Coordinator, Mrs. Nelia A.Costa, Secretary, Mrs. Carla G. Araujo, Tresurer I, Mrs. Adelia da Costa, Treaurer II, Mrs. Macia A. Silva, Co’ordinator of Dance, Mr. Joao Costa, Co’ordinator of Band, Mr. Moises Ribeiro, Co’ordinator of Public Relations, Mr. Ivo Beram, and Co’ordinator of Logistics, Mr. Oscar Silva. The objective of structuring DaDili group is to organise the group better and to run it smoothly and efficiently.

Through their dance group their aspire to respect the cultural and traditional beliefs, and hope to reduce conflicts and bring peace and unity in the community as a whole.