Tagging, breaking and bombing were all on the agenda at the JERIN Festival on Saturday at the South Plaza of Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

The festival — sponsored by the German embassy and the German-Indonesian chambers of commerce and industry (EKONID) — was back for its third iteration. On hand were a host of young local bombers (taggers) and dancers all sporting the traditional hip-hop gear of sneakers, caps and hoodies.

As the festival’s B-boy competition got underway, dancers were seen freezing and rocking (the foundational movements of breakdance) — as UK-based DJ DSK scratched and created the breakbeat.

Using 3-on-3 battles within a KO (knockout) system where losers did not advance, more than 20 crews made their bows.

One judge appeared impressed.

People in Indonesia “catch everything they can get and try to make something out of it,” according to Lord-Z, a Hamburg-based B-boy with a background in popping and hip-hop. In areas with limited Internet access, people were more free to do their own thing and develop their own way, he added.

Also on the jury were SonnyTee, inventor of the famous “air-chair freeze” move, and Assik, a trailblazer of the B-boy movement in Jakarta.

Assik — also known as Daud Mokalu, a breakdancer for 15 years — said that the festival offered a rare opportunity for hip-hop cultural exchange in Indonesia.

Although not many B-boys on Saturday mixed traditional Indonesian dance with breakdancing, a few showed unique character, mixing touches of kung fu into their routines.

Meanwhile, others threw their bodies on the floor as they performed, inviting applause from the other competitors. Members of the jury, however, were not impressed, according to Assik. “It’s dangerous. If it hurts, it’s wrong — even if it is extreme.”

SonnyTee had praise for those who incorporated local culture into their routines, saying that great dancers only competed against the beat of the music to develop their own character. He also noted that local street dancers specializing in “popping” were incorporating its jerking, contract-and-relax style with elements of the jaipong, a traditional Sundanese dance.

One dancer, 17-year-old Ari from the Maniac Street Crew, agreed. “Most of the participants only mix breakdancing with modern dance.” His crew specializes in hip-hop, popping and locking, meeting twice a week to practice in Klender, South Jakarta, and at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Cikini, Central Jakarta.

Ari had praise for with kids who started dancing in their early years and who had their own flavor, such as Farhan from the Killa Beat Crew. The 13-year-old, who started when he was 10, “has originality in flavor and character” as a dancer, Ari says.

Graffiti taggers were also represented. Once again, local artists were seen adapting to the situation in Indonesia.

The most commonly used type of spray-paint for tagging in other nations, PYLOX, is not popular here. Local prices are higher, compared to Germany, and bombers don’t have a good relationship with distributors.

Welcome: A visiting artist tags up on JERIN'€™s graffiti wall. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

Tagging, breaking and bombing were all on the agenda at the JERIN Festival on Saturday at the South Plaza of Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

The festival '€” sponsored by the German embassy and the German-Indonesian chambers of commerce and industry (EKONID) '€” was back for its third iteration. On hand were a host of young local bombers (taggers) and dancers all sporting the traditional hip-hop gear of sneakers, caps and hoodies.

As the festival'€™s B-boy competition got underway, dancers were seen freezing and rocking (the foundational movements of breakdance) '€” as UK-based DJ DSK scratched and created the breakbeat.

Using 3-on-3 battles within a KO (knockout) system where losers did not advance, more than 20 crews made their bows.

One judge appeared impressed.

People in Indonesia '€œcatch everything they can get and try to make something out of it,'€ according to Lord-Z, a Hamburg-based B-boy with a background in popping and hip-hop. In areas with limited Internet access, people were more free to do their own thing and develop their own way, he added.

Also on the jury were SonnyTee, inventor of the famous '€œair-chair freeze'€ move, and Assik, a trailblazer of the B-boy movement in Jakarta.

Assik '€” also known as Daud Mokalu, a breakdancer for 15 years '€” said that the festival offered a rare opportunity for hip-hop cultural exchange in Indonesia.

Although not many B-boys on Saturday mixed traditional Indonesian dance with breakdancing, a few showed unique character, mixing touches of kung fu into their routines.

Meanwhile, others threw their bodies on the floor as they performed, inviting applause from the other competitors. Members of the jury, however, were not impressed, according to Assik. '€œIt'€™s dangerous. If it hurts, it'€™s wrong '€” even if it is extreme.'€

SonnyTee had praise for those who incorporated local culture into their routines, saying that great dancers only competed against the beat of the music to develop their own character. He also noted that local street dancers specializing in '€œpopping'€ were incorporating its jerking, contract-and-relax style with elements of the jaipong, a traditional Sundanese dance.

One dancer, 17-year-old Ari from the Maniac Street Crew, agreed. '€œMost of the participants only mix breakdancing with modern dance.'€ His crew specializes in hip-hop, popping and locking, meeting twice a week to practice in Klender, South Jakarta, and at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Cikini, Central Jakarta.

Ari had praise for with kids who started dancing in their early years and who had their own flavor, such as Farhan from the Killa Beat Crew. The 13-year-old, who started when he was 10, '€œhas originality in flavor and character'€ as a dancer, Ari says.

Graffiti taggers were also represented. Once again, local artists were seen adapting to the situation in Indonesia.

The most commonly used type of spray-paint for tagging in other nations, PYLOX, is not popular here. Local prices are higher, compared to Germany, and bombers don'€™t have a good relationship with distributors.