GKJ to deliver classy performing arts shows

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.

I-BOX:

For more information on schedules and ticket prices call Gedung
Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Gedung Kesenian No. 1, Central Jakarta,
tel. 3808283, 3441892