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".