In celebration of World Dance Day on April 29, 2025, Jakarta is set to host a spectacular cultural event — the Indonesia World Dance Festival (IWDF) 2025.
Organized by RSD Management in collaboration with Gandrung Dance Studio, Kolam Ikan, and Sahabat Jakarta, this vibrant festival will take place on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Gor & Teater Bulungan, South Jakarta.
The festivities will kick off with a Festival Tari Nusantara parade at 7:00 AM, starting from Jalan Melawai (in front of BNI) and concluding at GOR Bulungan. The main event will run from 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM, open to the public free of charge. Nearly a thousand artists from various regions and backgrounds are expected to bring the festival to life.
Carrying the theme “Unite in Motion, Dance Beyond Borders,” IWDF 2025 aims to present dance as a universal language that transcends cultural, generational, and geographical boundaries.
“IWDF 2025 becomes a platform where dance acts as a universal language uniting cultures, generations, communities, and geographical borders,” the organizers stated, as reported by cnnindonesia.com.
This year’s IWDF is not just a dance festival — it is part of Jakarta’s journey toward celebrating its 500th anniversary. By showcasing Indonesia’s rich dance heritage, the event highlights cultural preservation efforts and strengthens local identity.
“As part of cultural preservation and local identity reinforcement efforts, IWDF 2025 connects Indonesian dance with the world,” the organizers emphasized.
A Full Day of Dance, Culture, and Celebration
IWDF 2025 promises a packed schedule, starting with the Nusantara Dance Festival Parade featuring delegations from 13 provinces, including Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Central Java, East Java, West Sumatra, North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Nusa Tenggara, Central Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi, Papua, and South Papua.
After the parade, from 8:00 to 8:45 AM, GOR Bulungan will transform into a lively stage for a mass Flashmob Tari Betawi. Around 150 dancers from Gandrung Dance Studio, Sanggar Nyi Ronggeng, and other IWDF participants will invite the audience to dance along, symbolizing unity and the spirit of cultural preservation.
From 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Teater Bulungan will host performances from 60 dance groups representing various provinces, showcasing the vibrant diversity of Indonesian traditional dance. Notably, a group from Malaysia will also perform, marking IWDF’s international outreach.
According to the organizers, in the Festival Tari Nusantara program, each group will showcase regional dances with unique choreography, costumes, and cultural interpretations reflecting the richness of their local identities.
Workshops, Dance Battles, and Guest Performances
Another highlight is the Capturing Body Connectivity dance workshop led by Rianto, a renowned master of traditional Lengger dance, known globally for his fusion of tradition and contemporary expression.
Scheduled from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, this workshop is open to dancers of all levels — from beginners to professionals and choreographers.
From 2:00 to 5:30 PM, the energy will shift to the Battle Dance Fusion, where 16 finalists from different regions will compete in a dynamic contest judged by notable choreographers Reza Muhammad and Hari Ghulur, with beats curated by DJ Gandhi Fruthless.
The evening will culminate with spectacular guest performances featuring Sandree Dance Crew, Rianto, Moluccan Soul, and well-known Indonesian singers Hedi Yunus and Dewi Gita.
Beyond Dance: Food, Art, and Fashion
Besides the dance programs, visitors can enjoy a variety of supporting activities, including traditional Betawi performances like ondel-ondel shows, music, art community showcases, and a bustling food bazaar offering authentic Indonesian cuisine. Fashion lovers can also enjoy exclusive deals during a special fashion brand flash sale.
Honoring World Dance Day
World Dance Day, celebrated every April 29, was established by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in partnership with UNESCO. The day aims to celebrate dance’s universality, crossing political, cultural, and ethnic barriers to unite people through the shared language of movement.
With its vibrant spirit and rich offerings, Indonesia World Dance Festival 2025 promises to be a landmark event, showcasing Indonesia’s cultural richness to the world while uniting communities through the power of dance.
Source: medcom.id, cnnindonesia.com, tempo.co
Photo Credit: authentic-indonesia.com
