New dance group to take the stage

New dance group to take the stage

JAKARTA (JP): A new modern dance company is to officially open
on its premier performance Friday evening, the first of a two-day
show at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ), Central Jakarta.

It will feature Chendra Effendy, Farida Oetoyo, Yudistira
Syuman and Wied Sendjayani staging their choreographies to the
music of an eight-member group headed by composer Wong Aksan,
drummer of the famous alternative-rock group, Dewa 19.

Kreativitat -- Dance Indonesia, led by GKJ chairwoman Farida
Oetoyo -- comprises artists who have studied dance or music in
Germany. Noted choreographer Linda Hoemar Abidin is acting as the
consultant audience development. Artist Teguh Ostentrik is also
involved in the production.

Choreographies planned for the performance are Chendra's Asa,
Farida's Kontras, Yudistira's Lullaby and Wied's Ejeg Eler.

The principal dancers are Aprida Darmawansjah, Christine
Tjahyono, Mira Tedja, Sita Kristina and Chendra Effendy while
guest dancers are Yetty Maika, Henry Jones, Bianca Sere Pulungan,
Sekar Arum Nirmala and Stella Marissa.

Wied, who is a guest choreographer, runs the Maniratari dance
school in Surakarta.

Farida said that during one of her visits there she saw the
school and was really impressed by the dedication of Wied's young
students.

"They all looked giggly and childish and the surroundings of
the sanggar (school) looked so bad... at first I was turned
off," Farida said.

"But then, they danced. It was so beautiful, it brought tears
to my eyes. I knew then that they had to perform at our premiere
performance."

She said that auditions for new dancers would be held before
Kreativitat's next project, which is still unscheduled. (ylt)