Jakarta. Indonesia Dance Company (IDCO) marked its 10th anniversary with a sold-out production of Cinderella at Jakarta’s Grand Theater, bringing together dancers from its training programs and professional ranks.

Staged on Aug. 29 and 30 at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta, Cinderella offered a glimpse of a larger ambition: building a pathway for Indonesian dancers from local studios to some of the world’s leading dance institutions.

The production showcased the technical elegance of classical ballet alongside the playful expressiveness of contemporary dance. Drawing on the familiar Disney story, IDCO presented its own interpretation of Cinderella for audiences of all ages.

The story opens with Cinderella, played by Krysante “Shiren,” dressed in a dull, ragged gown and cleaning alongside the household servants. The mood turns chaotic when her stepsisters arrive, taunting her and creating a mess before royal guards announce an invitation to the ball.

When Cinderella presents herself to her stepsisters, they tear her dress apart, leaving her in despair. The Fairy Godmother then appears in a striking silver gown, summoning her army of fairies to transform Cinderella for the ball.

The transformation is one of the production’s most magical moments. Cinderella’s ragged dress changes live on stage into a glittering blue gown in an instant, shimmering under the spotlight as she sets off for the ball.

At the royal ball, guests move through elegant waltz formations, accompanied by classical ballet turns, leaps and other technically demanding movements. IDCO adds a contemporary touch when the stepsisters compete for the prince’s attention, with exaggerated and playful choreography contrasting with the restraint of the other guests.

Cinderella arrives in a white carriage and immediately captivates the prince. The two share a pas de deux before midnight forces her to leave the ball.

The story reaches its familiar climax with the search for the owner of the glass slipper. But rather than ending in rivalry, the stepsisters and stepmother embrace Cinderella after discovering the truth.

The production ends with Cinderella and the prince reunited in another pas de deux, joined by the full cast before each performer takes a révérence, the formal bow or curtsy that traditionally closes a ballet.

Closing the show, IDCO Creative Director Deverell Alim said it was the company’s first sold-out performance at TIM’s Grand Theater, describing the achievement as an important milestone as IDCO enters its second decade.

The production also highlighted the pathway that IDCO and Marlupi Dance Academy (MDA), its affiliate ballet school, have been building for Indonesian dancers — from local studios to some of the world’s leading dance institutions.

Deverell highlighted three dancers whose training began in Marlupi’s full-time program. Among them were Krysante “Shiren,” who played Cinderella, and Mordechai Ozora Sumenda, who appeared as a royal guest. Both are currently students at the Royal Ballet School in London.

“These two young Indonesian dancers are currently at the Royal Ballet School in London,” Deverell said, referring to Shiren and Mordechai. “And you guys are the future of Indonesian dance.”

Also in attendance was Aneira Mirahani, a graduate of Marlupi’s full-time program who is now studying at Académie Princesse Grace in Monaco.

From a Home Studio to the World Stage
Marlupi Dance Academy has played an important role in shaping the pathway that eventually led to the creation of Indonesia Dance Company (IDCO), helping turn ballet from an extracurricular pursuit into a potential professional career for Indonesian dancers.

Founded in Surabaya in 1956 by dance maestro Marlupi Sijangga, who began teaching ballet from her home, the academy has grown over seven decades to more than 40 branches across major Indonesian cities, including Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali.

One of Marlupi’s longest-serving teachers, Siti Soraya, said in a #70YearsWithMarlupi social media post that the Indonesian ballet industry has evolved significantly, with young dancers increasingly seeing ballet not simply as an extracurricular activity but as a profession they can pursue.

For Claresta Alim, IDCO’s founder and artistic director, that evolution became the raison d’être for establishing the company. After seeing the intensity of full-time ballet training overseas, Claresta realized she could either continue developing her career abroad or return to Indonesia to build a bridge for the next generation of dancers.

She chose the latter, eventually leading to the establishment of IDCO.

Today, the company works alongside Marlupi to create a pathway for Indonesian dancers, connecting them with competitions, workshops, festivals, dance schools and companies in Indonesia and abroad. Among those who have benefited from the pathway are Rebecca Alexandria, Freya Zaviera Narendrasetya and Ilona Jahja, who have won first-place titles at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York.

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