Luxurious atmosphere offered at C.J.'s

By Yogita Tahil Ramani

JAKARTA (JP): Some of the patrons were confident enough to do the cha-cha and swing to In The Groove and Begin The Beguine. Others were happy to simply savor the music and the sight of dark figures dancing in a dimly lit arena at C.J.'s Bar at the Hotel Mulia Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Pastel-suited men and women enjoying liquors and coffees graced plush deep blue, brown and grape sofas on a recent Thursday night, the only day of the week set aside for "Hot Latin Dancing".

Four hundred guests attended the event, including celebrities such as actress-singer Nia Zulkarnaen and husband Ahmad Iskandar Zulkarnaen, talk-show host Ingrid Widjanarko, vocalist Yana Julio, designer Ramli, painter Firman Ichsan and model Okky Asokawati.

About 10 couples, still in office attire, swung their hips around the floor with Yana, Ingrid and Ramli.

Ballroom dancing was reintroduced July 30 and at least four dance instructors were hired by the bar, which has a three-by-six-meter stage.

According to public relations manager Lia Sunarjo, the program was offered to lure office-bound executives into the bar.

"This is being done particularly for those office workers and entrepreneurs who need to unwind after a hard day," Lia said.

But why ballroom-dancing?

Lia said that even expressive dancing required style and grace.

"Latin dancing comes from doing the tango, cha-cha and the swing... it's expressive but it requires style," she said.

"Besides, it's one way of getting the yuppies into this bar as well. Ballroom is not only for the old, but the young too."

It also offers a no-cover-charge benefit except on Fridays and Saturdays, when patrons have to pay Rp 40,000 (US$3.33), although this includes a free soft drink.

The 350-square-meters-wide bar with a 128-seat capacity could fit in 500 for a standing party. Lia said that it offers a variety of drinks and snacks, ranging from freshly squeezed juices, imported beer and liqueur coffees to a selection of sushi rolls, grilled chicken tikka and satay.

However, prices are a bit steep. An orange or an apple juice comes in at Rp 18,000 a glass, soft drinks Rp 9,500 a bottle, imported beer-prices are either Rp 21,000 or Rp 26,000 -- depending on the brand -- glacier or Perrier water costs Rp 14,500 a bottle while local Aqua or Oasis will set you back Rp 5,500.

Liqueur coffees are priced at Rp 48,000 and beverages like hot chocolate and fresh lemonade, Rp 12,000. Snacks range from Rp 14,000 to Rp 28,000, excluding tax.

The place has a quiet elegance, a luxurious atmosphere and the music, whether Italian accapela from the album Neri Percaso or the instrumental music of Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, is easy on the ear.

The 40-story hotel, whose owners still owe Rp 20.5 billion to the city administration for building the hotel two-and-a-half times higher than permitted, was officially opened in September 1997 while the bar started operating one month later.

Asked what C.J.'s stood for, Lia said: "The name came directly from the Mulia Group CEO, Joko S. Tjandra."