By UK/Indonesia 2016-18 team

25 September 2017 - 07:53

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Ballet.ID with British Council Indonesia, Australian Embassy, and Institut Francais Indonesie will hold the 2nd Indonesian Ballet Gala: An Inclusive Dance Event on Saturday (23/9) at Teater Besar, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta.

In a press conference held at the British Council HQ, Office 8, Jakarta last Tuesday (19/9), Mariska Febriyani from Ballet.ID said that the idea for an inclusive dance event came when she participated at Unlimited Festival in Glasgow, UK. “I met with a lot of world-class disabled dancers there,” she stated.

The working ethos and spirit of the disabled dancers that she met at Unlimited Festival then inspired her to hold the 2nd Indonesian Ballet Gala.

There are a handful of elements that categorize this event as a must-see. We break it down below:

The theme “An Inclusive Dance Event”

By spotlighting equality of dancing for all humans, this event involves a number of disabled and non-disabled dancers within the country or abroad. Some of them are deaf dancer Isro Ayu Permatasari and wheelchair dancers from Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat Jakarta (Foundation for the Disabled Children Care in Jakarta).

Isro told us: “In the beginning, it’s very hard for us to communicate. Many even distinguish themselves with the dancers from abroad and it resulted in a lack of confidence. But after three months of practising together, we found the right formula in communicating and establishing cohesiveness. This makes the workshop more exciting.”

Cross-Country Collaboration

The 2nd Indonesian Ballet Gala: An Inclusive Dance Event pairs Indonesian dancers with international names, such as Daniel Daw and Mirjam Gurtner from Candoco Dance Company (England), Queensland Ballet and Marc Brew Company (Australia), Magaly Saby (France), and Universal Ballet (South Korea).

Candoco Dance Company is collaborating with some deaf dancers from Indonesia, Magaly Saby is working with Indonesian disabled dancers who auditioned through the Internet, and EKI Dance Company created a new choreography with wheelchair dancers from Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat Jakarta (Foundation for the Disabled Children Care in Jakarta).

A Chance at Witnessing World Class Dancers

The international names who will perform at the 2nd Indonesian Ballet Gala: An Inclusive Dance Event are really something else. One of the dancers from Candoco Dance Company, Daniel Daw, was included as the dancer for the closing of London Paralympics 2012 accompanied by the song “Yellow” which was performed exclusively by Coldplay. Founded twenty years ago, Candoco Dance Company now has a total of fifty productions that have been performed in sixty countries.

Queensland Ballet is the second oldest classical ballet company in Australia. Li Cunxin, the artistic director, said: “This art form transcends borders and breaks barriers. Ballet is a borderless art form.”

Enrich the Lives of Many People

It’s not just a jargon or hyperbole, but witnessing a show such as the 2nd Indonesian Ballet Gala: An Inclusive Dance Event can really enrich lives and even change the way we live to the better.

“We perform to represent the disabled, to create a possibility to live together without a difference. Hopefully, it can expand all possibilities and also enrich the way I tell a story,” stated Mirjam Gurtner from Candoco Dance Company. “This is about changing the gaze of people, from mere pity to pure admiration towards artistic excellence.”

Prestigious Venue

The 2nd Indonesian Ballet Gala: An Inclusive Dance Event will be held at Teater Besar, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta. Located in central Jakarta, inside a historic art complex, Teater Besar is a prestigious venue that will surely add the value of this event.

The tickets to attend the 2nd Indonesian Ballet Gala: An Inclusive Dance Event are divided into five categories, which are Rp 280.000 (bronze), Rp 420.000 (silver), Rp 600.000 (gold), Rp 800.000 (platinum), and Rp 1.250.000 (titanium).
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