Jakarta youths rehearse for 2000
Jakarta youths rehearse for 2000
By Ingrid Maack
JAKARTA (JP): As the millennium draws closer, people are busy
with activities to observe the event. For the MTV generation
there seems to be no other way to celebrate it than by partying.
Over 8,000 Indonesian MTV viewers packed into Jakarta's
Bengkel Night Park on Saturday night for MTV's Millennium
Rehearsal Party. The Nyala-Nyala Noceng (Flame of 2,000) event
was the first of three planned premillennial parties being hosted
by MTV Southeast Asia in the lead up to the millennium. It's
purpose is to build excitement and provide entertainment for
Jakarta's youth.
Dressing to the theme of MTV's black and white logo, Jakarta's
youth glowed under a strobe lighting display and danced to the
tunes of local artists Wong Neo, Dunia Kecil, Netral, Melly
Manuhutu, Thomas Djorghi, The Groove, Noin Bullet and Batere.
According to MTV Southeast Asia associate director of
marketing & communications Daniel Tumiwa, the three rehearsal
parties are the solution to the logistical nightmare of
organizing a New Years Eve party.
"There is an expectation that MTV will throw a big party, but
its going to be hard to pull off a big celebration at the end of
the year. There will never be a big enough party to accommodate
everyone's needs or expectations, so this is our solution," he
said.
Henny, a 21-year-old student from Jakarta's Trisakti
University, believes the millennium rehearsal parties are a
fantastic idea. "I still don't know how I will celebrate the
millennium, but I think everyone is determined to have the night
of their life this New Years Eve," she said.
Henny admits that while she and most of her friends have high
expectations for New Years Eve, she suspects it might be a bit of
an anticlimax. "I am having a great night tonight anyway, and I
plan to come to the next two parties," she said from the dance
floor.
With similar events planned for the first weekends of October
and November, MTV's Millennium Rehearsal parties are only
expected to get bigger and better.
Saturday night was also the launch of MTV's Millennium
passport campaign. This umbrella campaign has the theme of "What
haven't you done before the millennium?", giving the term New
Year's Resolution a whole new meaning. MTV is encouraging viewers
to join in on the millennium madness capturing the world by doing
something out of the ordinary or beyond our usual comfort zone.
The Millennium passport point system -- including gold, silver
and bronze levels -- entitles viewers to various discounts at
sponsored food and retail outlets, and entry into a final draw
with the chance of winning a Harley Davidson (XL sporster 883
Custom year 2000 series) motorbike.