Dance your way through the holidays
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
School holidays are here again and children wonder what fun and games they can look forward to during the month-long break. Fun is all very well, but recreation should also be educational, hence the many summer camps that crop up in countries such as the United States and Australia during the holidays.
This year, children from Jakarta have the opportunity to attend one such camp -- a music, dance and theater camp organized by noted dance school Namarina, together with the Sacred Bridge Foundation.
"Not every Indonesian child can afford to go to a summer camp abroad, so this will be a cheaper alternative for them to participate in an intensive performing arts program," Maya Tamara, principal and artistic director of Namarina said here.
The program, dubbed "Dance and Beyond", takes place at the National Center for Research, Science and Technology (Puspiptek) in Serpong, West Java, 18 kilometers west of Jakarta, until June 29.
"The children stay at the Puspiptek compound and trek about one kilometer every day to the training hall," Maya said, explaining that the experience is expected to teach independence and character to the children.
There, children between nine years old and 13 years old are taught the techniques and history of ballet, modern and Hip Hop dance, traditional Betawi dance and dances from Minang, West Sumatra.
They are also taught traditional music, acting and art, Maya said.
Children who have no previous training in dance and music need not feel left out, as the classes are divided into those with previous music and dance experience and those without, she added.
"Our aim is to encourage children to develop an awareness of movement, sound, melody, song and mime, and engage in healthy competition, cooperation and an awareness of cultural variety," Maya said.
More than 200 children have applied for this first year of Namarina's intensive dance program. Some 75 percent are Namarina students.
"We will try to attract a wider audience next time through word of mouth, but for this, our first year, Namarina students make up the majority of participants," Maya said.
A typical schedule at the camp includes 90 minutes of gymnastics beginning at 8 a.m., followed by 90 minutes of jazz dancing and another 90 minutes of music lessons.
After a two-and-a-half-hour lunch break, classes resume for acting, followed by rehearsals for a performance staged in front of parents on the last day.
The lessons end at 5 p.m. every day, Maya said.
Teachers employed for the program include Namarina's own teachers, instructors from the Sacred Bridge Foundation, as well as independent professional music and dance instructors.
Dinar Karina, head of Namarina's Jazz department, said that Olivier Patey from the Paris Opera will teach ballet, while Edward van Ness from Medan International School will be teaching music. The program costs Rp 1 million (US$116) including meals and accommodation.