GKJ Festival expected to inspire Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): After a long pause, the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ) will again delight the local art circle with an international-scale art event on Aug. 19 through Sept. 9.
The 20-day event called Gedung Kesenian Jakarta International Festival 2000 will involve performers from nine countries: Poland, China, the Netherlands, Mexico, Britain, Austria, Japan and Italy.
Farida Feisol, director of the Jakarta Playhouse, explained that the festival was expected to relieve the heated atmosphere in Jakarta, where tension has been increasing in recent weeks.
"It is hoped the active participation of performers from eight foreign countries will rekindle the image of Jakarta as a cultural city," said Farida.
The last festival was organized by the Jakarta Playhouse in l997, when Indonesia was first hit by a multidimensional crisis. The first festival was held in l990, and was expected to be held biannually. However, due to security and financial problems, it was halted until this year.
Farida said each participating country had confirmed it would display its best traditional and contemporary performing arts.
Indonesia will present popular dance troupe Gumarang Sakti led by choreographer Gusmiati Suid.
During the festival, Gusmiati will stage her most recent dance choreography titled Menggantang Asap (Expecting the Impossible), a sequence to her two previous works Api Dalam Sekam (Tinderbox) and Asa di Ujung Tanduk (Last Hope).
Artist Butet Kartaredjasa will stage Mayat Terhormat (Respected Corpse), a monologue telling a story of a graveyard attendant who every day witnesses people suffering at the hands of brutal officials.
Teater Payung Hitam is to perform DOM dan Orang Mati (Military Operation Territory and the Dead), which reveals the facts about the ferocity of military members in conducting a territorial operation in which hundreds of people are injured and killed.
Indonesia will also present Topeng Cirebon (Cirebon Mask) and Bali Arja Balinese traditional drama.
Mexico will present Dance Company of the State of Aguascalientes. The company will invite local audiences to watch the beautiful and colorful traditional Mexican dance titled Colores De Mexico (staged between Sept. 1 and Sept. 2).
The troupe, consisting of 30 artists, will stage various traditional folk and ritual dances originating from the Aztec culture. The performance has been made possible due to close cooperation with the Mexican Embassy in Jakarta.
In cooperation with the British Council, Stephen Mottram will put on a puppet show (Sept. 3 and Sept. 4).
Mottram will manipulate marionettes in an enchanting and imaginative way. The performance will be accompanied by music composed by Glyn Perrin.
In addition to dance, theater and puppet shows, the festival will also present a jazz concert featuring Heinz von Hermann Jazz Ahead Quintet from Austria (performed on Sept.5).
Japan is presenting the Harp Ensemble Concert featuring prominent harpists Keiko Kaneko, Kiyoko Sagiya, Mari Suzuki, Yukiko Omata, Urara Inoque. Established by Josef Mornas, the ensemble has performed around the world. The group's repertoire ranges from classic, jazz to pop music. The show is fully supported by the Japan Cultural Foundation.
The Netherlands will also present a music concert featuring Keros Ensemble (Aug. 27). The ensemble comprises harpist Alexander Bonnet and violinist Angelo Gimeno and soprano Gabrielle Mulder. Music by Louis Spohr, Jo Sporck and Hans Kox will be played.
For the first time, Italy will stage the Italian Opera Arias on Stage by soprano Nunzia Santodirocco and pianist Guido Galterio (Sept. 8).
Poland will stage theater performance Greenpeace by Wladyslaw Kazmierczack and Ewa Smigielska (Aug. 21). The story portrays the grim situation in which war, pollution and rapid technological development drastically change the social life and environment of the world.
China will also take part in the festival by presenting traditional folk dances performed by Chinese Dance Troupe from Heilongjiang.
The group will perform eight dances such as Stick with Flowers, Mongolian, Song of the Boat, Heroine in Peking Opera.
All performances will be staged at 8 p.m. For more information call Gedung Kesenian Jakarta on (021) 3808283, 3441892. (raw)