City youths hold anniversary bash
City youths hold anniversary bash
By Fitha W. Dahana
JAKARTA (JP): Who says the young people of Jakarta don't care
about their country's history and culture? A group of youths from
the Model Muda Foundation (YMM) has plans to prove this opinion
wrong.
To commemorate Jakarta's 469th birthday, the Foundation and
the city's public order agency, together with other youth groups,
have put together a musical celebration of Jakarta and its
diverse culture.
The other organizers are the Jakarta Youth Communication
Forum, the Indonesian Communication Forum for Mosque Youths,
Children of the Indonesian Civil Servants Corps and the Teater
Mbeling drama group.
The open-air show will start at 8 a.m. on June 23 at Monas
(National Monument) park and will be free of charge.
Planned performances of Gaya Remaja 1996 (Teenage Style) will
include cheerleaders from the Youth Communication Forum and a
traditional Saman dance from the Forum for Mosque Youths.
Others are a musical drama by the Teater Mbeling group and a
traditional Betawi Lenong Play by the Children of Korpri.
A fashion show featuring teen models will present the
creations of such young designers as Raizal Rais, Rusmawi Tuamit,
Dimas Mahendra and Corry Katsubi.
Preparations began last May with a cast of 450 artists, mostly
junior and secondary high school students.
Most of the crew working on the project are between 16 and 29
years old.
"The show was put together by and for Jakarta's youths,"
stated Jimmy Samaris, a 20-year-old model working at YMM.
Organizers say the show also aims to support the national
discipline campaign which began last May.
"Discipline has to start with ourselves," Deddi Yudianto, one
of the organizers said.
"Through Gaya Remaja 1996, we hope to inspire youths to live
in a disciplined manner," he said.
"I am proud to be involved in such a big production," stated
teen model and actor Ronny Setiawan.
He added, "It's good to see all these youths cooperating to
put this show together and doing something positive for other
youths."
Awie Harsono, the show's choreographer and director, commented
that he wants the dances to depict the younger generation's love
for Jakarta and its traditions.
"I want to show everybody whoever doubted our compassion for
our country and its traditions that they were wrong," Awie
stated.
Yati Utoyo Lubis, a psychologist, feels that the younger
generation here does care about traditions, and the upcoming
event seems to be a good way of expressing this.
Through cheerleading chants and short plays, the message can
reach young people, said Yati, who heads the clinical psychology
department at the University of Indonesia.
The deal way to instill discipline, she added, is by setting
an example.
"To discipline our children, we must first discipline
ourselves," Yati said.