Int'l performers have Bali dancing

Int'l performers have Bali dancing

Benito Lopulalan, Agence France-Presse, Ungasan, Bali

Bali was still dancing Sunday after international stars, including disco queen Gloria Gaynor, played a special "peace" concert to honor the holiday isle rocked by deadly terrorist blasts in October.

About 8,000 people packed into the sprawling Garuda Wisnu Kencana site in the island's south on Saturday night for the World Peace Music Award Show, held according to organizer Matt Taylor to draw international attention to troubled Bali.

Taylor said the event was organized to underscore the "peaceful response" of the people of Bali to the October 12 bombing that killed 202 people from 21 countries.

The attack shattered the island's image of peace and tranquility and paralyzed its tourism-dependent economy as tourists canceled trips to its sunny beaches.

"I have done some shows in Asia and never seen a crowd like this," said Taylor.

Security was tight for the show, with 1,200 police patrolling the open-air venue, including a detachment of plain-clothes officers who mingled among the audience.

Local village ritual guardians also helped enforce security.

The bill included artists from Australia, Japan, Korea, USA, Latin America, France, United Kingdom, and Ireland as well as Indonesia.

Among the big-name performers were veteran disco star Gaynor, Irish rock group Rubyhorse, British Reggae star Maxi Priest and North African Rai group Zohar.

Also, Jon Farriss from Australian rock group INXS, Korean vocalist Yoon Do Hyon, Mexican latin group Kinky and France's baroque singer Emma Shapplin, appeared.

Indonesian performers included rock band Slang and diva Kris Dayanti as well as controversial racy-dancing singer Inul Daratista.

Members of legendary British punk band The Police, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, were also billed but were delayed by flight problems.

Gaynor and Dayanti were among those honored by the event's organizers with "peace awards".