In observance of International Dance Day, the city of Surakarta in Central Java held a two-day dance festival from April 28 to April 29, involving more than 6,000 dancers from various dance studios and universities.

The festival took place over 11 venues, including the Surakarta Arts Institute [ISI Surakarta] campus, the Vastenburg Fort complex, Jl. Jend. Soedirman and several malls.

The festival was opened with hundreds of dancers circling the housing complexes around the ISI Surakarta campus. The dancers zipped through the kampung streets and alleys while performing traditional dances, such as the Jaranan dance from Banyuwangi, Ngremo dance from Blitar and Bujang Ganong dance from Ponorogo.

Carrying the title “Menyemai Rasa, Semesta Raga” [Sowing the feelings, a universe of bodies], the 10th edition of the festival, known locally as Solo 24 Jam Menari, received a warm welcome from Surakartans.

"The growing enthusiasm was shown by the number of dancers participating in the festival. Last year we only had 3,000 dancers, now the number has doubled to 6,000 dancers, so we extended the performance schedule from one day to two,” said ISI Surakarta rector Sri Rochana W.

According to committee chairman, Joko Aswoyo, the 6,000 participants were made up of dancers from various backgrounds, such as professional dancers, university students, high school students and those from dance studios. Three dancing troupes from Malaysia and another troupe from China also took part in the annual event.

The event also featured 24-hour dance performance by Samsuri, a lecturer with the ISI Surakarta’s faculty of dance arts, and Mudjo Setiyo, a dancer from traditional troupe Bharata from Jakarta. The festive mood filled the air of the Central Java city when around 2,000 dancers paraded along Jl. Jend. Soedirman on the afternoon of April 29. Residents took part in the parade, enhancing Surakarta’s image as a city of arts and culture. [dmr]

JP/ Ganug Nugroho Adi