The Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Mari Elka Pangestu has expressed her readiness to attend the International Dance Championship.
The dancers will come from Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Thailand, China, Philippines, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Poland, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Korea, Myanmar, Japan and Indonesia.
The competition`s organizer, Marcel De Rijk, said in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province on Monday that the dancers from the 18 countries have confirmed their participation.
"The Japanese have confirmed just now," he remarked, noting that there are 420 participants in all, comprising 91 world-class dance pairs from the 18 countries.
Marcel, who owns the Puri Mas Boutique Resort and Spa and Mangsit Beach Senggigi, is one of the international dance judges, and he has won 22 international dance competition championships.
For this achievement, Marcel was awarded the honorary titles of the `Vice President of the World Dance Council` and the `President of the League of World Council Asia Amateur.`
Marcel noted that the international dance competition is divided into two categories: traditional dances from the Lombok and Sumbawa islands and the modern international and Latin ballroom dance styles such as the waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep.
The traditional dances are performed by dancers from Indonesia, including Lombok and Sumbawa, while the international and Latin ballroom dance categories involve talented professional and amateur dancers from various countries.
"In the ballroom and Latin dance categories, the participants came from 14 countries last year. This year, however, there are dancers from four more countries: Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar," Marcel disclosed.
The international dance competition will spur tourist arrivals in the West Nusa Tenggara region, he said, noting that the world-class dancers will compete in the international arena in the ballroom and Latin dance categories.
"We know that the efforts to increase tourist arrivals can be undertaken through sport and cultural activities, and the international dance competition is one such real effort," Marcel stated.
The international dance competition to be held in Lombok has been organized by the World Dance Council (WDC), in collaboration with the Indonesian Council of Ballroom Dancing (ICBD) based in Jakarta.
However, conducting the international dance competitions is usually entrusted to the event organizer PT International Dance Indonesia (IDI).
The international dance competition is also supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the provincial Culture and Tourism Office, in addition to the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) of West Nusa Tenggara and other members of the tourism business in the province.
The Lombok International Dance Championship 2012 is the 8th such competition; the event has been held every year since 2004 and is included in the West Nusa Tenggara tourism calendar`s schedule.
"The international dance event is part of WDC`s activities, in addition to a dance sports activity entitled `International Holiday and Dance,` which is held to attract tourists to Lombok," Marcel said.
In addition, Marcel denied an allegation saying that the dancing championship has something to do with a pornographic issue. (*)
Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
