World premieres for Art Summit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After three years of waiting, art lovers in
\nJakarta will be able to enjoy performances by local and
\ninternational artists at the Third Art Summit Indonesia 2001
\nInternational Festival on Contemporary Performing Arts.<\/p>\n
At the festival, arts lovers will have rare chance, witnessing
\ntwo world premieres by the Pappa Tarahumara dance theater company
\nfrom Japan and the Folkwang Tanzstudio of Germany.<\/p>\n
Pappa Tarahumara will blend music and artistic movements free
\nfrom certain genre, while providing art lovers the space to
\ninterpret the artists' work. For the Arts Summit, the troupe will
\nstage Love Letter.<\/p>\n
Folkwang Tanzstudio, one of the world's most recognized dance
\ntroupes, will close the festival with the latest piece of
\nHanrietta Horn's creation, titled Der Auftacher (Hard to
\nUnderstand Dance). The group will center its choreography using
\nchairs as props while promising subtle humor, balanced but with
\nsurprises.<\/p>\n
Among other local and international performers will be two big
\nnames in the country: dancer-choreographer Farida Oetoyo and
\nactor-director N. Riantiarno.<\/p>\n
Farida, who is also the artistic director of Kreativitat Dance
\nIndonesia dance company, will stage her new choreographed work
\nBurung-Burung (Birds).<\/p>\n
The 62-year-old artist -- who studied ballet at the Bolshoi
\ndance academy in Russia and became a dancer for Ballet der Lade
\nLander in Amsterdam -- is known for her efforts of mixing ballet
\nwith local nuances, creating attractive choreography.<\/p>\n
"In my new piece, Burung-Burung to be staged at the Arts
\nSummit, there will be less touches of ballet," Farida said.<\/p>\n
The dance is full of metaphors, using birds to express one's
\nuneasiness in life while illustrating the human life cycle.
\nThirteen dancers will stage the choreography, with accompanying
\nmusic prepared by noted musicians Indra Lesmana and Farida's son
\nWong Aksan.<\/p>\n
Riantiarno's Teater Koma will certainly bring the crowds in to
\nthe Arts Summit, with fans lured for two reasons: the new play
\nand the return of the group's director N. Riantiarno.<\/p>\n
Titled President Burung-Burung (President of the Birds), the
\nplay promises social-political humor, the group's popular
\ntrademark, inspired by the country's ongoing situation.<\/p>\n
The play tells the story of a country which faces a repeat of
\nhistory. Chaos reigns everywhere and people demand the
\naccountability of their former president, who took power 30 years
\nago, stockpiled a fortune and was then accused of kidnapping and
\nmurdering prodemocracy activists. Now, he is an old man with
\nplenty of loyal birds. Old memories are his sole consolation, and
\nhe is a leader only to his birds.<\/p>\n
The month-long festival -- organized by the office of the
\nState Minister of Tourism and Culture to run from Aug. 27 to
\nSept. 27 -- will feature 17 groups from 10 countries.<\/p>\n
The first festival, with the theme "Music and Dance", featured
\n15 groups from nine countries in 1995. In 1998, the festival
\nfollowed the theme "Performing Arts" with 15 groups performing
\nfrom eight countries.<\/p>\n
All acts participating in the event, the most prestigious in
\nthe country, had to undergo competitive selection by nine members
\nof the artistic team, including reputable artists Sardono W.
\nKusumo, Rahayu Supanggah, Putu Wijaya, Ratna Riantiarno, Sal
\nMurgiono and former director general of culture Edi Sedyawati,
\nwho is also the event's national committee vice chairperson.<\/p>\n
"We had to turn down some groups as they failed to meet our
\nrequirements," said Ratna.<\/p>\n
She gave an example of a Russian group which planned to
\npresent a classical show instead of a contemporary one which was
\nexpected at the event.<\/p>\n
"But there were also some groups, including from India and the
\nUnited States, which were ideal for the event, but could not
\nperform due to our limited budget. We can't afford to fly them
\nhere, we can only provide meals and accommodation," Ratna said.<\/p>\n
Tickets for the shows are priced between Rp 10,000 (about
\nUS$1.1) and Rp 50,000 each.<\/p>\n
In addition to all the performances, organizers will also
\nstage a three-day seminar from Sept. 14 to Sept. 16 on
\ncontemporary performing arts with the theme "The Challenge of
\nMulticulturalism". (ste)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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