Indonesian Traditional Dance Brought Closer Through New Academy
Three Indonesian dance practitioners—Lusy Ekawati, Wiwiek Santoso, and Rinda Soemarno—have launched D3 Academy & Studio as an educational institution for dance, talent development, and creative content production based on the performing arts.
The academy was established to strengthen the regeneration of Indonesian dancers while creating space for traditional and modern dance to become more adaptive to the needs of the creative industry, international stages, and digital platforms.
Executive Director of D3 Academy & Studio, Lusym Ekawati, stated that the establishment of the academy stems from a desire to pass on the heritage of Indonesia’s dance maestros to the younger generation.
“We are grateful that we can begin this major project today. We ask for your prayers and support so that the journey of D3 Academy & Studio proceeds smoothly and provides wide benefits for the art world and the younger generation of Indonesia,” Lusy said in Jakarta.
According to Lusy, the idea for D3 Academy & Studio originated from a meeting of dance communities involving alumni of Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja and LKB Saraswati under the guidance of I Gusti Kompyang Raka. From this meeting, a need emerged to build a more professional dance learning space that is relevant to modern developments.
She noted that D3 Academy & Studio is not merely intended as a dance practice space, but also as a talent development ecosystem to ensure Indonesian dancers have opportunities to perform on wider stages.
“What the teachers have bequeathed to us, we wish to pass on to the next generation. We want to continue that legacy through a strong ecosystem, the use of technology, and an approach suited to contemporary needs,” she said.
Wiwiek Santoso, Director and Traditional Dance Choreographer at D3 Academy & Studio, stated that the academy will implement a more structured, systematic, and certified learning method.
According to Wiwiek, preserving traditional dance requires an educational approach that teaches not only technique but also provides practical experience and opportunities for public performance.
“Learning dance is not enough through studio practice alone. Therefore, we allocate a large portion to practice and performance experience,” said Wiwiek.
D3 Academy & Studio is also preparing a programme targeting international participants through the ‘Foreigners Class for Mastering Traditional Dances’. This programme is intended for foreign tourists, diplomats, expatriates, and foreign professionals living or working in Indonesia.
Rinda Soemarno, Director and Modern Dance Choreographer at D3 Academy & Studio, said the programme is designed so that foreign participants can learn Indonesian traditional dance from the basics to being able to perform within approximately one month.
“D3 Academy & Studio wants to provide a unique experience. Participants will be trained from scratch until they are able to master traditional dances and perform confidently in public,” said Rinda.
To support this international programme, the academy is preparing instructors who are fluent in English to ensure the learning process can be followed optimally by foreign participants.
In addition to education and training, D3 Academy & Studio also aims to be a centre for dance-based creative content production. Rinda noted that the digital space presents a vital opportunity to introduce the richness of Indonesian dance arts to a global audience.
“We want to be a productive and educational dance content factory. Indonesian dance arts possess extraordinary richness that deserves a wider stage in the digital world,” she said.
Through the establishment of D3 Academy & Studio, the three founders hope that the regeneration of Indonesian dancers can be more directed, while simultaneously strengthening the position of Indonesian dance arts at both national and international levels.
They also expressed their respect to the teachers who shaped their journeys as artists and educators. In their view, dance is not just a series of movements, but also a medium to preserve the values, identity, and cultural heritage of the nation.
“The torch of that heritage is now being relit through D3 Academy & Studio Jakarta,” said Lusy, Wiwiek, and Rinda.