12 September 2008

One Night Journey in Indonesia

Celebrating the 63rd Indonesian Independence Day

By Shirley Ghozalli. Edited by Moira Blake and Peter Finch

An article about "One Night" in the local newspaper, Manawatu Standard - 8th September edition

On Saturday, 6th September, an event took place at the Globe Theatre, Palmerston North to celebrate the 63rd Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia (17th August). Although it was the second year that the Indonesian Students Association had invited guests from Palmerston North community to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day with them, it was the first time the association had put on a fully choreographed show with lighting, stage decorations, audio and video arrangements.

The show, called "One Night Journey in Indonesia", was the fruit of collaboration between the Indonesian Students Association (Indonesian students at IPC and Massey University) and the Indonesian community of Palmerston North. It was sponsored by the Asia NZ Foundation and the Indonesian Embassy, and included a rare performance by a famous Indonesian traditional dance artist, Mr Didik Nini Thowok.

The students had turned the Globe Theatre lobby into a cultural display with traditional music playing and traditional art and craft products on display, including the tools and materials used in the process of making 'batik', traditional Javanese cloth. Souvenirs, snacks and refreshments were offered to the guests before the show started.

The main event began at 7.00 pm with a welcome message from the Indonesian Ambassador (read by the First Secretary, Mr Tri Purnajaya), and two welcome messages from the Palmerston North Mayor and the Asia New Zealand Foundation representative (read by Satya Duhita). Then Indonesia's national anthem, "Indonesia Raya" was played. This was followed by New Zealand's national anthem played by a group of Indonesian performers wearing traditional costumes using traditional bamboo instruments called "angklung". After that, the "journey" began.

Coordinated by Satya 'Ayu' Duhita (a 2007 IPC student) and Cendra Perkasa (a Massey University student), the performance told the story of a newlywed tourist couple going to Indonesia for their honeymoon and taking a one-night-guided tour to see the culture, flora and fauna of the Indonesian Archipelago.

The wave-movement in Tari Saman

Wayang shadow puppet show

Mr Didik Nini Thowok performing

Their journey started at Aceh on Sumatra Island, where the famous "Tari Saman" or "Thousand Hands Dance" was performed to welcome the tourists and the audience. From there they went to Jawa Island, to the capital city, Jakarta, which was represented by its traditional dance "Tari Yapong" and a "bajaj" or three wheeled taxi, a common form of transport. From Jakarta, the journey went on to the central part of Jawa, the Province of Jawa Tengah, showcasing the "wayang" or shadow puppet show and 'batik' craft. After this, Mr Didik Nini Thowok took centre stage and performed his speciality, the exotic art of transgender dance.

Then the audience was transported across the Jawa Ocean to Kalimantan Island (known also as Borneo), where tourists can see the Dayak tribe and culture, the rainforest and the indigenous and endangered 'orangutan'. Sulawesi Island (also known as Celebes) came next, featuring the tribe and culture of Toraja and the Bunaken National Marine Park. After Sulawesi, the Province of Papua, the western part of New Guinea Island, was the next destination. Here, the tourists could view the traditional house called 'honai', the Papuan people and culture and a traditional Papuan dance called "Tari Sajojo". The final destination was the island paradise of Bali, where the famous traditional Balinese dance "Tari Kecak" was performed, telling a story from the Ramayana epic.

With "Tari Kecak", the journey was at an end. To conclude the performance, Amanda Chudori, Indah Mayasari and Mariesca Octaviani (3 IPC students) sang an Indonesian song "Tanah Air (=Motherland)", accompanied by Cendra Perkasa (a Massey University student) on the piano and Andre W. Maningkas (an IPC student) on the saxophone. In the middle of the song, Amanda recited a poem, a translation of the song. During the poem, all of the performers came out on the stage and joined in the song. Some of the audience were so moved by the words that they couldn't hold back their tears.

One of our guests commented, "Unforgettable performance, full of colours and flavours, which truly gave the understanding of Indonesian cultures and people." While other guest remarked "It was wonderful to see so many people involved from small children to adults. The playing of the NZ national anthem on Indonesian instruments was a lovely touch."

A tour guide explaining to the newlywed couple about Toraja houses

Tari Kecak from Bali Island

All the performers singing "Tanah Air" as the finale of the event

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