Luxurious atmosphere offered at C.J.'s<\/p>\n
By Yogita Tahil Ramani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some of the patrons were confident enough to do
\nthe cha-cha and swing to In The Groove and Begin The Beguine.
\nOthers were happy to simply savor the music and the sight of dark
\nfigures dancing in a dimly lit arena at C.J.'s Bar at the Hotel
\nMulia Senayan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Pastel-suited men and women enjoying liquors and coffees
\ngraced plush deep blue, brown and grape sofas on a recent
\nThursday night, the only day of the week set aside for \"Hot Latin
\nDancing\".<\/p>\n
Four hundred guests attended the event, including celebrities
\nsuch as actress-singer Nia Zulkarnaen and husband Ahmad Iskandar
\nZulkarnaen, talk-show host Ingrid Widjanarko, vocalist Yana
\nJulio, designer Ramli, painter Firman Ichsan and model Okky
\nAsokawati.<\/p>\n
About 10 couples, still in office attire, swung their hips
\naround the floor with Yana, Ingrid and Ramli.<\/p>\n
Ballroom dancing was reintroduced July 30 and at least four
\ndance instructors were hired by the bar, which has a
\nthree-by-six-meter stage.<\/p>\n
According to public relations manager Lia Sunarjo, the program
\nwas offered to lure office-bound executives into the bar.<\/p>\n
\"This is being done particularly for those office workers and
\nentrepreneurs who need to unwind after a hard day,\" Lia said.<\/p>\n
But why ballroom-dancing?<\/p>\n
Lia said that even expressive dancing required style and
\ngrace.<\/p>\n
\"Latin dancing comes from doing the tango, cha-cha and the
\nswing... it's expressive but it requires style,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, it's one way of getting the yuppies into this bar as
\nwell. Ballroom is not only for the old, but the young too.\"<\/p>\n
It also offers a no-cover-charge benefit except on Fridays and
\nSaturdays, when patrons have to pay Rp 40,000 (US$3.33), although
\nthis includes a free soft drink.<\/p>\n
The 350-square-meters-wide bar with a 128-seat capacity could
\nfit in 500 for a standing party. Lia said that it offers a
\nvariety of drinks and snacks, ranging from freshly squeezed
\njuices, imported beer and liqueur coffees to a selection of sushi
\nrolls, grilled chicken tikka and satay.<\/p>\n
However, prices are a bit steep. An orange or an apple juice
\ncomes in at Rp 18,000 a glass, soft drinks Rp 9,500 a bottle,
\nimported beer-prices are either Rp 21,000 or Rp 26,000 --
\ndepending on the brand -- glacier or Perrier water costs Rp
\n14,500 a bottle while local Aqua or Oasis will set you back Rp
\n5,500.<\/p>\n
Liqueur coffees are priced at Rp 48,000 and beverages like hot
\nchocolate and fresh lemonade, Rp 12,000. Snacks range from Rp
\n14,000 to Rp 28,000, excluding tax.<\/p>\n
The place has a quiet elegance, a luxurious atmosphere and the
\nmusic, whether Italian accapela from the album Neri Percaso or
\nthe instrumental music of Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, is
\neasy on the ear.<\/p>\n
The 40-story hotel, whose owners still owe Rp 20.5 billion to
\nthe city administration for building the hotel two-and-a-half
\ntimes higher than permitted, was officially opened in September
\n1997 while the bar started operating one month later.<\/p>\n
Asked what C.J.'s stood for, Lia said: \"The name came directly
\nfrom the Mulia Group CEO, Joko S. Tjandra.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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