Indonesian Dance Festival encourages local performers

The 11th Indonesian Dance Festival, which began this February is slated to culminate this June, includes for the first time a competition for aspiring local dancers and choreographers.

As many as 33 pieces of work have been selected from the some 300 entries to compete in the finals, which will be held this Sunday.

The winners will receive prize money as well as a chance to perform during the festival's peak period.

However, six dance groups from various regions including Yogyakarta and Kalimantan, resigned from the competition, despite making it to the finals, due to financial constraints, head of dance competition Nungki Kusumastuti said.

"There is a sad story. Only 27 can come to Jakarta [for the finals]. Apparently they still needed funds," she said.

The dance festival will also feature international names such as Tang Fu Kuen from Singapore and Daisuke Muto from Japan, as well as choreographers from various nations, including Germany, France, Tunisia and Cambodia.

Highlights in the festival include various dance and multimedia collaborations, event director Maria Darmaningsih said.