Backstage Access

Ever wondered how hectic things can get backstage of a lenong performance? How do these great, funny character get the jitters off their back? Performed as a part of the Jakarta Anniversary Festival, this show has all the right Lenong Betawi ingredients to make you laugh out loud! Not just entertaining, the performance was also educational. Don't worry if you don't know where Karet tengsin (an area in Jakarta) got its name from. The cast will tell you in the most convenient way: through humor and good acting. Thanks to the director's thorough research, we have learned more about our heritage, especially Betwai traditions.

The story Behind the name : Karet Tengsin
Along time ago in Tanah Abang area, there lived a very rich and nice man named Tan Teng Sin. He used to help other people regardless of their color and origin. When Tan Teng Sin was dying, everyone was sad. Some of the people even tried to give him the best medication they could get to cure him. But GOD seemed to have another plan for Mr.Tan. At the time he finally had to leave this world, loads of people even from far away lands, swamped his house to pay him their last respecs. Since Tan Teng Sin's house was surrounded by a lot of rubber trees, that area was named Karet Tengsin.

World Wide Art 3

USA : Square Dance and Line Dance
Square dancing and Line dancing are sometimes thought of as originating from the Wild West. The Line dance is a formation dance in which a group of people dance in one or more lines. There are several variations to the parallel lines set-up. There may, for example, be two sets of lines where the dancers face each other directly. Although Square dance and Line dance are not so famous here, sometimes people dance them when celebrating American Independence day, or at Western Festivals where English major students do these dances.

India : Kathak Dance and Tabla
Having watched many Indian movies, you'll see one main characteristic in them. An Indian movie always contains dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. It's easily understandable because according to Indian philosophy, music must include those three elements. Home to many traditional dances and music, India invites other people to learn about their culture.
"KATHAK" derives from the worl 'Katha' or story telling. A Kathak dancer tells stories using all parts of her/his body, facial expressions and body movements. Previously performed in temples, this kind of dance now is popular world wide. Tabla consists of a set of two drums. Tabla is very popular among dangdut musicians in Indonesia.

World Wide Art 2

Continues from World Wide Art 1
Italy : Ballet
Is ballet a traditional art? Not now maybe, but yes, it was. It all started in Italy in the 15th century. The earliest introduction to ballet was luxurious entertainments given in the courts of Renaissance Italy. The Italian court ballets were further developed in France. Le Ballet Comique de la Raine (The Queen's Ballet Comedy), the first ballet of which a complete score survived, was performed in Paris in 1581. Now ballet classes are everywhere, you cna join one of the following courses.

Japan : Taiko
Japanese Taiko drums have been developed into a wide range of percussion instruments that are used in both Japanese folk and classical musical traditions.
Taiko was introduced to Japan through Korea by way of China, with the introduction of Buddhism from India, some time before 600 A.D. in the Nara period of Japan's history. Although an exact date cann not be pinpointed, scrolls and temple records show its usage for ceremonies. Nowadays, not only Japanese know how to play Taiko. More and more people learn to play it, regardless of nationality.

World Wide Art 1

I bet you are familiar with disco, break dance, or other modern dances. You also have heard music for ages. But do you know that many countries in the world have their own traditional dances and music? If you are really into arts and curious about it, just read on!

Brazil : Capoeira
Is capoeira an art or self defense? The answer is both! A result of the search for freedom in nineteenth century in Brazil, Capoeira now is very popular world wide. Watching people playing Capoeira is always interesting. Their hands, legs , and body move freely like ocean waves, accompanied by the rhythm from an atabaque (a specific drum of Capoeira) and berimbau (a one string sitar like musical instrument). Sometimes it's also accompanied by a pandeiro (tambourine). Learning capoeira means that you will also learn how to produce 8-9 different rhythms using those musical instruments.

China : Lion Dance
The Lion dance, or barongsai, as it is commonly known in Indonesia, was not a dance at all at first. Legend says that there was an evil creature, Nian, which attacked villagers in China. Since no one could beat the fierce being, they asked a lion to help them. Nian was defeated, but it vowed to take revenge. When Nian returned, the Lion was not there to help. So,the villagers made a fake Lion out of bamboo and cloth. They also banged pots and pans to scare away the Nian. The villagers have carried on this tradition every year ever since. The Lion dance has become a must see dance at every Chinese Lunar New year Celebration in world since several years ago.

Culture Hub

Want to enjoy traditional culture, but have no idea where to go and what to see? here is the ultimate culture map for you so you won't get lost. What are you waiting for? Go for our unique culture, have fun watching the performances, and be proud of being part of all this cultural richness.

Jakarta
- Miss Tjitjih Building
Address : Jl. cempaka Putih Utara
Are you a fan of Sundanese culture or just curious about it? This is the right place to drop by if you want to see Sundanese traditional performances.

- Sampan Matsuda Center
Address : Kl. Cik Ditiro II/1 Menteng
Phone : 3923930
Smartly designed both as restaurant and traditional theater, this place offers seafood on its menu. Live performances are scheduled every Saturday, but the restaurant opens daily from 6 to 10 PM.

- Setu Babakan
Address : Jl. Moch. Kahfi II Jagakarsa
Phone : 7862861
If you want to know the real Betawi culture, go to Setu babakan on Sunday. There you can see dance, comedy, and lenong performance. You can also taste the many varietes of Betawi's cuisine: toge goreng, kerak telor, bir pletok, and many more.

- Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
Phone : 8409214
No explanation is needed to describe what you can see here since it's Indonesia miniature, where we can enjoy cultural performances from different tribes in Indonesia.

- Gedung Kesenian Jakarta
Address : Jl. gedung kesenian No.1 Pasar Baru
Phone : 3808283
The heritage building has lots of performances to offer, almost daily. Don't forget to check out the website www.gkjonline.com to performances date.

- Wayang Orang Barata
Address : Jl. Kali Lio No.1 Senen
With a weekly performance Saturday night at 8 PM, WO Barata has gained lots of loyal watchers.

Bandung
- Saung Angklung Udjo
Address : Jl. Padasuka No 118
Phone : (022) 7271714
See what : Angklung performances, Sundanese dances, and Angklung training for beginners.

- Dago tea House
Address : Jl Bukit dago Selatan
Phone : (022) 2504912
See what : Sundanese traditional performances and art exhibitions

- Selasar Sunaryo
Address : Jl Bukit Pakar Timur No 100
Phone : (022) 2507939
See what : Traditional music, theater performances, etc!

- Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang
Address : Jl. Baranang Siang No1
Phone : (022) 4233562
See what : Traditional performing arts, especially Sundanese.

- Asia Africe Cultural Center
Address : Jl. Asia Afrika No 65
Phone : (022) 4234239
See what : Sundanese and other ethnic cultural performances

Memorable Cellphone Moments part3

Cellphone are part of our lives. For some people they even have become a kind of basic need. Having one with us whenever we go, treating it as if it were our best friend, sharing some moments with it, and cherishing memories with it are some of the things that some people do with their cells. Here are some stories about cellphones shared by my friends.

Arriving home from work, I felt very tired. I had just hung my jacket on a hanger and was taking a rest when I remembered that I had to call one of my friends. I looked for my cellphone, but I couldn't find it. I asked everyone in the house whether they saw my cellphone, but no one did it. Well, I lost it, I thought. Then my brother tried to call my cellphone. To our surprise, we heard it ringing in my jacket! My cellphone was there. ( Tukul Arwana )

I work in a mobile phone store. To perfectly promote the cellphone cum camera that we sell, I took pictures of myself each with a different camera, developed them, and put them in the shop's display next to the respective cellphones. So the costumers could see at once the quality of pictures taken with each camera. But one day came a naughty customer who asked, "If I buy this camera, can I get the girl in the sample picture as a present?"
I'll never put my pictures in the shop's display again. ( Inul Darastista )

Memorable CellPhone Moments part 2

Cellphones are part of our lives. For some people they even have become a kind of basic need. Having one with us wherever we go, treating it as if it were our best friend, sharing some moments with it, and cherishing memories with it are some of the things that some people do with their cells. Here are some stories part2 about cellphone shared by my friends.

My boyfriend and I bought some toasted bread one day and went home on his motorcycle. Since I didn't have my handbag with me, I put my black cellphone in the black plastic bag that I got from the toast seller. When we went over a road bump, suddenly the plastic bag slipped from my fingers and fell on the street. My boyfriend decided to stop and pick up the plastic bag, but before we did so, two men on their bike gave me my plastic bag. They instantly left again after I thanked them. When I checked the plastic bag, I was shocked to find only the toast and no cellphone. Then I asked my boyfriend to call my cellphone, but the men who had taken it didn't want to give it back to me. Gone was my cellphone ..... ( Dewi Sandra)

It was in the second grade of junior high when I bought my first cellphone. It was the latest model. Of course I took it with me wherever I went. When I spent a Saturday night at my friend's house, I had it with me. I put my cellphone on the table and chatted with my friends. Then suddenly the electricity went out. When it finally came on again, my cell phone was nowhere to be found! I didn't know who took it. But I couldn't stop wondering who else could have taken it if it wasn't one of my friends. ( Ayu Dinar Kartika )