GKJ to deliver classy performing arts shows
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For the sixth time since 1990, the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ) is organizing an international performing arts festival, the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta International Festival, which will run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 29.
Some 20 performing arts groups from Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, the Netherlands and the United States will take part in this year's festival, formerly known as the Jakarta International Festival of the Performing Arts.
With the theme "one world, one nation, diverse cultures", the biannual festival is aimed at making GKJ an international venue for performing arts, promoting international understanding through cultural exchanges and increasing public appreciation toward the performing arts.
A performance by the Jakarta Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kindar Bhakti Nusantara, will kick off the festival on Sept. 4. The performance will also feature soloist Kanthining Pentarti and the Abdi Siswa Choir.
The orchestra will play George Bizet's L'arlesienne, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, and Indonesian compositions Arimah's Bulan Purnama, Ismail Marzuki's Rayuan Pulau Kelapa, and Damai Kudamba by Kindar BN and Aman S.
Ballet Sumber Cipta will also perform during opening night with Jurge Otte's choreography Gelombang (wave).
During the rest of the month, the Rp 445 million (about US$50,282) festival will showcase Poland's guitar duo Krzysztof Pelech and Jarema Klich, a piano recital by Germany's Stephan Imorde and Indonesia's Conny Mulawarma, Australian Jazz artist Ron Reeves, and Indonesia's Marusya Chamber Music, as well as pianists Iravati M. Sudiarso and Aisha A. Pletscher.
Dances will include the U.S.'s Janis Brenner & Dancers, Korea's The National Dance Company who will perform at Teater Tanah Air at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), the Netherlands' Gerard Mosterd, Indonesia's Deddy Luthan Dance Company, IKJ Dance Company and Namarina Ballet.
Indonesia's theater groups Teater S'mas will perform Gonjang Ganjing (Turmoil), written and directed by Azuzan JG, and Teater Tetas with Seorang Anak Menangis (A Crying Child).
The Jakarta International Festival of the Performing Arts was first organized in 1990 and ran four months with 31 participating groups from 14 countries. It was followed by biannual performances until 1997 when the name of the festival was changed to the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta International Festival.
A brief hiatus followed the 1997 performance when Indonesia was beset by the Asian economic crisis and only recently resumed in 2000.
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For more information on schedules and ticket prices call Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Gedung Kesenian No. 1, Central Jakarta, tel. 3808283, 3441892