Media Release
14 August 2023
Top talent from the world-class West Australian Ballet (WAB) performed on stage in Jakarta yesterday, 13 August, as part of Ballet.id’s 3rd Indonesian Ballet Gala at JIEXPO Theatre.
WAB principal dancers, Chihiro Nomura and Gakuro Matsui, and soloist Nikki Blain mesmerised Indonesian audiences performing alongside Indonesian and international ballet artists.
Another highlight of the evening saw Javanese dancers showcase the unique cross-cultural dance project “Jawa Ballet”. Supported by the Australia Indonesia Institute, Jawa Ballet was developed during a six-week virtual residency facilitated by WAB in 2021. Australian and Indonesian ballet dancers overcame Covid-19 travel challenges, working together online to create a movement style combining ballet and Javanese dance.
“We are proud to support these collaborations between WAB and Ballet.id, which are an example of the growing links between Australia and Indonesia’s creative industries. In recent years, we have seen a number of workshops and exchanges between Australian and Indonesian dancers, choreographers, and administrators,” said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Penny Williams PSM.
WAB has been collaborating with Ballet.id since 2015, when the company participated in the First Indonesian Ballet Gala. The two companies also performed together as part of WAB’s Jakarta tours in 2016 and 2019.
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