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Graceful dance recital highlights unity in diversity
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Dressed in all-white, the dancers gracefully perform "Unity". JP/ Seto Wardhana (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)
B
hinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity) served as the highlight of a dance recital at the Usmar Ismail Film Building in South Jakarta on Saturday.
Titled “Warnaku Indonesia” (My Color Indonesia), the show presented various types of dance, such as waacking, hip hop, ballet, Broadway jazz, contemporary, urban choreography and traditional dance.
Performed by dance academy Indonesian Dance Theater as its first anniversary celebration, the recital consisted of 19 parts.
(Read also: Surakarta kicks off Chinese New Year with Umbul Mantram ritual)
“We would like to present something to our nation in the form of dance, especially the types of dance that are taught at our academy, such as hip hop, urban choreography, contemporary, classical ballet, modern jazz, Broadway jazz and traditional dance,” said the academy principal Sisilia Oei, adding that they wanted the art of dancing to combine music, passion, soul, fashion and make-up.
The recital started with a performance of one of Indonesia’s songs, “Rayuan Pulau Kelapa” (Solace on Coconut Island), followed by “Urban Life in Motion”, where the dancers, all dressed in batik, interpreted the current situation in society where many different identities collide in urban life.
Choreographed by Josh Marcy, the piece showcased the beauty of diversity.
Some of the segments highlighted meaningful messages. “Unity”, for example, portrayed the beauty of harmonization. Wearing all-white costumes, the dancers performed gracefully. Meanwhile, choreographer Morine Erine presented “Sepuluh”, where 10 dancers were portrayed confronting different conflicts to achieve their purpose together.
“We come from different cities, religions, cultures, schools, but we believe that we’re Indonesians. That’s why the show is called ‘Warnaku Indonesia’,” said the academy director Claudia Warni. (kes)
