Under the generous grant from Art Networks Asia (ANA) and The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) New York.

1. Background

Over the past fifteen years, a great number of new innovative music and dance works have been created by young choreographers and composers in Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia. This is a strong sign of the increasing enthusiasm of creativity among talented young artists in the region. Most of these works, however, have never been presented in national or trans-national forums or festivals. As a result, many brilliant new works have little impact to the development of mainstream contemporary performing arts in Southeast Asia.

In response to this, Geria Olah Kreativitas Seni (GEOKS), a private art organization, based in Singapadu village of Gianyar-Bali (Indonesia), is organizing a biennial international Forum for Young Choreographers and Composers (FYCC), beginning in August 2007. The forum will alternate between local (a local, Bali or Indonesian version of the Forum began in 2006) and international focus each year.

The 2007 FYCC, by inviting selected choreographers and composers from three countries (Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand), the forum is meant as a trans-national performing arts event that will include productions and workshops. The main goal of FYCC 2007 is to provide space and place for these young artists, to share their creative experiences, and to learn from each other. It is also hope that the forum will establish intra-generational and international networks among these young artists.

GEOKS, the host of FYCC, is uniquely situated in the center of Singapadu village, the home of varieties of performing and visual arts, so that, it will give remarkable rural setting to the forum. Away from noisy urban areas, the setting fosters the kind of reflection and meditation necessary for the creative process.

2. A Glimpse of Singapadu Village

Singapadu is one of the most culturally rich villages in Bali with vibrant living art and cultural traditions. Located in the western part of Gianyar District, the village is located about ten kilometers north of the City of Denpasar, south of Ubud village. Singapadu can be reached between fifteen to twenty minutes, by motorbike or car, via the main road of Denpasar-Kintamani. Also located between the culturally rich Celuk and Batubulan villages, Singapadu serves as an ideal location for FYCC.

Since 1948 Singapadu has become well known for its “Barong and Kris Dance.” In addition to the barong dance, in this village is also the home of a number of fine performing art groups, offering varieties of genre, such as gong kebyar, gong luang/saron, topeng dance drama, kecak dance, arja dance drama, to mention only a few. A great number of performing artists, wood carvers, sculptures, and painters live in the village, many of whom hold both national and international recognition. Due to this fact, Singapadu audience is famous for being artistically receptive and knowledgeable.

3. Vision and Missions

We intend the FYCC to be a space and resource for competition and dialogue among new and emerging choreographers and composer.

Based on this vision, the FYCC has the following goals:

1. To help foster artistic creativity among young Indonesian artists as well as those from other Southeast Asian, especially choreographers and composers;

2. To provide space and opportunity for competition and dialogue among young artists, especially choreographers and composers;

3. To help establish networking and contact among artists of the younger generation both internationally and internationally.

4. To increase local, rural audiences for contemporary work.

4. The Setting of the Forum

FYCC 2007 will be a three-day event, from August 10^th through August 13^th. All activities will be focus at GEOKS-Singapadu/Gianyar Bali. The first two nights will be focused on the presentation and performance of the participating artists. In order to give the opportunity for all participating artists to present their ideas, there will dialogue and discussion in the last day of the Forum. On the same day, a team of observers, selected by GEOKS, will informally present their observation as feedback to the artists. A cultural evening, by inviting the best local performing art group, will conclude the forum.

In line with the vision of FYCC described above, the participants of the 2007 FYCC will feature only young choreographers and composers (thirty years or younger) from Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia. (In the future, the Forum hopes to invite artists from other region of Asia and other parts of the world). Participants will present a new piece that can be a solo, duet, or small group of 3 to 5 performers, lasting between ten to fifteen minutes long.

FYCC is designed as art event in the village. The accommodation for the participating artists will use village houses, and activities (performances, discussions, and workshops) for the forum will take place in the village (Singapadu). By having the forum centered in the village, it will not only increase the appreciation of the local audience in contemporary art works, more importantly it provides golden opportunity for all participating artists to experience the richness of the artistic living tradition of the village. Ultimately such an experience will inspire them to explore the artistic potential of the villages, or perhaps to revitalize village cultural centers, in their home countries.

5. Conclusion

A village based performing arts forum, FYCC 2007 is an important event for young artists in Indonesian and Southeast Asia to exhibit talent, develop their work, and contribute to the development of contemporary performing arts of both Indonesia and Southeast Asia. It will also give these artists increased exposure and important contact with other members of the local and international arts community. With the support of regional and international art organizations, these are the primary goals GEOKS wishes to achieve with a successful FYCC 2007.

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