Arts festival opens in Palu

Arts festival opens in Palu

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A one-week arts festival, Palu
Indonesia Dance Forum, was opened on Friday by Director-General
of Tourism Development R. Sarwono to promote Indonesian arts.

The festival, taking place at the city's Gor Park, features
various traditional dances, including Reago and Noalu, and music
from regencies in Central Sulawesi, including dadendate music.

Chairman of the organizing committee Irwan Mumu said in his
report that at least 275 local artists and delegates from Japan
and the Netherlands were taking part in the rare occasion.

Irwan cited Hidori Hirata from Nagoya, Japan, and Grace Suzan
and Maria Bernadeth A from the Netherlands, as foreign
participants.

Discussions on arts and culture would also be held during the
festival. "Sapto Rahardjo, a musician from Yogyakarta, Rifky
Efendy, a fine arts critic from Bandung, Tjatjo Thaha, a history
professor at the University of Tadulako and Sulaiman Mamar, a
professor of anthropology of the same university, will be among
the speakers in the discussions," Irwan said.

All of the festival events are open to the public. (24/sur)