Surfer Girl Balinese Dance Competition

This year, Kuta Karnival went back to its original roots, with a Balinese Dance Competition held by Surfer Girl at Kuta Beach. Canopies were set up to provide shelter from teh sun for the kids dressed in traditional Balinese wardrobe performing their skills in “Panyembrahma” and the energetic “Cenrawasih” dance. All the fun was topped off with a modern dance performance by Surfer Girl team and a super funny cabaret style “Gedebong Goyang” performed in thick Balinese accents and style by expatriate ladies married t

Junction Bali Dance Music Festival

Now in its 3rd year, the dance music festival that turned this island back onto house music returns with no less than six events across five venues over the course of one week. Here’s a taste of what’s to come…

Pippi
DJ Pippi is one of the mainstays of the seminal Balearic sound that sprang from Ibiza. If it wasn’t for the likes of him, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold et al might never have emerged from their hep-cat rare groove phase and the UK might never have known house. He helms the world famous “Undiscovered Ibiza” mix series – just a few of the 27 compilations he’s put out (never mind the 41 productions and 18 remixes) over his 17 year career, as well as spinning all over the world. www.djpippi.com

Marques Wyatt
When it comes to deep, soulful house, Marquess Wyatt is the West Coast’s guardian. The L.A based DJ/Producer was largely responsible to switching the West on to the music that had taken root in New York and Chicago, planted by the likes of Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles. That was way back in the eighties. These days, his club, DEEP, is pretty much a West Coast institution hosting some of the hottest DJs in the house scene. This is the realness. House music with soul. www.deep-la.com

Nicolas Matar
Last year, Nicolas Matar was one of the mainstays of the Junction, Bali. As those who heard his sets last year can attest, he has a penchant for deep, vocal house, NY Garage and classics. You could look at him sort of like an East Coast counterpart of Wyatt – he owns and plays at Cielo Club, one of the homes of quality house music in New York, renowned for its impeccable sound system and proper house credentials – after all, Francois K is one of the three residents. www.cieloclub.com

Seiji
DJ Seiji is one of the founder members of UK broken beat collective Bugz in the Attic and a prolific producer and remixer of innovative electronic music. He’s worked under a range of monikers, but whatever he calls himself you can be assured of deep, soulful drummatic flavours. He recently produced Roisin Murphy’s new solo album and continues to put out soulful house under the name Homecookin’ London stylee people.
www.myspace.com/seijimusic

Rounding off the line up are DJ B out of Singapore and one of the pioneers of house in Jakarta, DJ Anton, cohorts Hogi and Cream, Kudeta’s Donni One plus Mamsa and Downey.

Saturday 11 August – Kudeta – Day Party DJs Nicolas Matar & Donni One
Thursday 16 August – Niksoma Hotel – Sunset Party 1500 - 2200 DJs Nicolas Matar, Pippi, Anton 200k
Thursday 16 August – F-Lounge – Night Party 2300 – 0600 DJs Seiji and Cream 50k
Friday 17 August – Sentosa – Sunset Party 1400 -2200 DJs Marques Wyatt & Hogi 150k
Friday 17 August – F Lounge – Night Party 2300 – 0600 DJs Downey & Marques Wyatt 50k
Saturday 18 August – Daydream – Sunset Party 1600 – 0300 - DJs Pippi, Seiji, Anton 150k

MBarGo - Escape From Alcatraz

A squad of cute dancers dressed in skimpy law enforcements outfits and sporting plastic firearms danced across the MBarGo bar as MC G-Voiz (himself dressed as an undercover narc in Kevlar vest) kept things live on the mic while DJ Gust kept it going on the floor with his bombastic hip hop beats. Stilt walkers and free flow Bintang sealed the deal for what was an arresting night of raucous fun. Ring the alarm!

July 12th 2007

Flamenco Fever at F Lounge

A new addition to the F-Lounge programme, hosted by Lady Tasha of the Dance Company, bringing together the mixed rhythms of Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. The Latin enthusiasts turned up and the Dance Company threw down some crazy couples moves on the floor. Check it out every Wednesday night - dance flamenco, bang the bongos drink mid-week margaritas...