Vice Gov Committed to Boosting Creative Industry

Jakarta Vice Governor Rano Karno expressed his appreciation for the musical show "Perempuan Punya Cerita" (Women Have Stories), held at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Menteng, Central Jakarta.

"We will continue to support and provide room for young artists,"

Rano stated that the Jakarta Provincial Government fully supports all forms of creative industry, including EKI Dance Company, which has contributed to arts for over 30 years.

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"I hope EKI Dance Company continues to grow and deliver even greater works," he mentioned on Sunday (9/7).

He praised the musical show, performed by a group of young artists, for its outstanding quality. According to him, their performance stood out from others, especially in its dramatic elements.

The story itself, he added, presents a powerful reflection of reality, highlighting the importance of paying special attention to children so that issues like bullying and other forms of abuse depicted in the story do not happen in real life.

"The director, performers, dancers and all involved in this production did an excellent job delivering an engaging performance for the audience," Rano shared.

He also emphasized that the Jakarta Provincial Government has taken various steps to support and foster young artistic talents, including facilitating collaboration with artists and providing spaces and resources.

"We will continue to support and provide room for young artists and other creatives to grow and develop their talents," he asserted.

Meanwhile, "Perempuan Punya Cerita" Director, Ara Ajisiwi, explained that the production carries a strong message about the struggles women face in confronting injustice and social pressure.

The musical tells two fictional stories that reflect the reality of many Indonesian women, focusing on two main characters, Jami and Anya, representing different generations, yet united in their fight to have a voice.

These characters were first introduced in short performances during the 2023 and 2024 Indonesia Musical Festival. They now return in a full-length musical with a larger production scale, deeper narrative, and original choreography and music.

"Everything has been carefully crafted to bring their emotions and stories to life on stage," said Ara.

She reaffirmed that "Perempuan Punya Cerita" is not merely a musical, but also a platform for reflection.

"We want to show that Indonesian women are strong and courageous, fighting for their lives and dreams, even amidst social pressure," she explained.