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 whilst opening up space for traditional and modern dance to be more adaptive to the needs of the creative industry, the international stage, and digital platforms. Executive Director of D3 Academy & Studio, Lusy Ekawati, said the academy’s establishment stemmed from a desire to pass on the legacy of Indonesia’s dance maestros to the younger generation. “We are grateful today to be able to start this major project. We ask for your prayers and support so that the journey of D3 Academy & Studio runs smoothly and provides broad benefits for the art world and the young generation of Indonesia,” Lusy said in Jakarta. According to Lusy, the idea for establishing D3 Academy & Studio originated from a dance community meeting that brought together alumni of the Bagong Kussudiardja Arts Centre and LKB Saraswati under the guidance of I Gusti Kompyang Raka. From that meeting emerged a need to build a dance learning space that is more professional and relevant to current developments. She said D3 Academy & Studio is not only intended as a dance practice venue but also as a talent development ecosystem so that Indonesian dancers have the opportunity to perform on a broader stage. “What was passed on to us by our teachers, we want to pass on to the next generation. We want to continue that legacy through a strong ecosystem, the use of technology, and an approach that suits today’s needs,” she said. Director and Traditional Dance Choreographer of D3 Academy & Studio, Wiwiek Santoso, said the academy will implement a learning method that is more structured, systematic, and certified. According to Wiwiek, preserving traditional dance requires an educational approach that not only teaches technique but also provides practical experience and opportunities to perform in public. “Learning dance is not enough just through studio practice. Therefore, we place great emphasis on practice and performance experience,” Wiwiek said. D3 Academy & Studio is also preparing a programme targeting international participants through a Foreigners Class for Mastering Traditional Dances. This programme is aimed at foreign tourists, diplomats, expatriates, and foreign professionals living or working in Indonesia. Director and Modern Dance Choreographer of D3 Academy & Studio, Rinda Soemarno, said the programme is designed so that foreign participants can learn traditional Indonesian 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 a traditional dance and perform confidently in public,” Rinda said. To support the international programme, the academy has prepared instructors fluent in English so that the learning process can be followed optimally by foreign participants. In addition to education and training, D3 Academy & Studio is also targeting itself as a centre for dance-based creative content production. Rinda said the digital space is an important opportunity to introduce the richness of Indonesian dance to a global audience. “We want to become a productive and educational dance content factory. Indonesian dance has an extraordinary richness that deserves a wider stage in the digital world,” she said. Through the establishment of D3 Academy & Studio, the three founders hope the regeneration of Indonesian dancers can proceed in a more directed manner, whilst strengthening the position of Indonesian dance nationally and internationally. They also paid tribute to the teachers who have shaped their journey as artists and educators. According to them, dance is not just a series of movements, but also a medium for safeguarding national values, identity, and cultural heritage. “The torch of that legacy we now rekindle through D3 Academy & Studio Jakarta,” Lusy, Wiwiek, and Rinda said.