Australian Dance Theatre performs in Indonesia for the first time

The Australian Embassy Jakarta is delighted to announce that the Australian Dance Theatre performed their work for the first time in Indonesia, as part of its Arts and Culture Program 2014.

The company presented Be Your Self at the 5th Salihara Festival in Jakarta on the weekend, 11 and 12 October 2014. This tour aimed to strengthen cultural and economic ties between Indonesia and Australia.

Be Your Self, the work of Artistic Director Garry Stewart, was selected by the Salihara Festival because of its innovative use of movement, text, projections and an interactive set. Fusing different narratives from Buddhism philosophy to medical texts, the movements of the dancers are designed to be highly athletic, sophisticated and dangerous.

Australian Dance Theatre’s Executive Director Julianne Pierce said the company is absolutely thrilled to be touring to Jakarta.

“A current focus of Australian Dance Theatre is to reach new markets in Asia. There is much interest in Australian arts and culture across the region and this is the perfect time for us to showcase the best of Australian dance to our friends in South East Asia and more broadly in Asia. The support of the Australian government is very exciting for us, their work to build bridges and create new opportunities has to be applauded,” she said.

The Australian Embassy’s Arts and Cultural Program 2014 runs from March through to November and includes music, visual art exhibitions, dance, literature, textiles, sport and a science and innovation seminar series. The program also includes arts residencies and exchanges involving artists from both countries.

The Arts and Cultural Program 2014 is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian International Cultural Council, an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Arts and Cultural Program 2014 is generously supported by the ANZ Bank, the Australia-Indonesia Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Curtin University, Deakin University, Ernst and Young, Flinders University, Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland and the University of Tasmania.

Media Enquiries:
Sanchi Davis, First Secretary (Cultural) tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 959 0304