Indonesia sends cultural mission to Utah, Boston

Indonesia sends cultural mission to Utah, Boston

JAKARTA (JP): A group of about two dozen Indonesian dancers
leave tomorrow for Utah and Boston in the United States on a
cultural mission aimed at helping build more positive bilateral
relations.

The mission is being organized by the Indonesian-American
Friendship Association. Its president, Moetaryanto, said that
given the current economic and political situation in both
countries, the building of friendship and mutual understanding
through cultural ties had become even more important.

"A cultural mission is one way... to bridge differences,"
Moetaryanto said.

The mission will stay in the States for 16 days. During the
first eight days in Utah, it will perform in front of students at
several universities.

In the last eight days in Boston, the group will attend the
annual Boston Festival, which usually has participants from up to
90 countries.

The dances to be performed come from Aceh, Minangkabau, Riau,
Sunda, Cirebon, Java, Bali and Lombok. They have been
choreographed by names as illustrious as Sultan Hamengkubuwono
IX, Bagong Kussudiardjo, and S. Kardjono.

Among the young choreographers involved is Lalu Suryadu
Mulawarman, the winner of the Traditional Dance Choreographer
Festival held at the Gedung Kesenian in Jakarta last month. (swe)