(29 Apr 2016) LEAD IN:
It is World Dance Day and enthusiasts across the world are moving their feet and shaking their hips.
The city of Solo in Central Java has embraced the event, with thousands of people taking to the streets in a festival of dance.
STORY-LINE:
The city of Solo in Central Java is getting its groove on.
More than 6,000 people from all over Indonesia and abroad across the city are taking part in a dance-a-thon with participants taking turns to dance for 24 hours straight, organised by the Solo City Government in cooperation with the Indonesian Art Institute (IAI).
The dancers began their routines at various locations including the city hall, Indonesia Dancing institute and several shopping malls on 0830 gmt on April 28 and finished at 0830 gmt the next day.
One participant called Samsuri says: "The most formidable challenge for me (in dancing 24 hours) was physical because I will not sleep the whole night and had to keep dancing until tomorrow afternoon."
It's all part of World Dance Day which is celebrated globally on April 29.
Joko Asmoyo, Chairperson of Solo 24 hours dancing says: "This event is interesting because the artists not only perform but also will provide workshops that will take place the interactions between them, which in turn will create new ideas and creations."
Participants from Indonesia come from Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, others come from as far away as China and Malaysia.
Dancer Anna Schult is from Germany: "My name is Anna and I study at Institute Art of Indonesia. I am very happy after I performed bali dance to celebrate world dance day today."
World Dance Day was established in 1982 and is promoted by the International Dance Council CID, which is part of UNESCO.
It is celebrated in every country of the world by many millions of dancers, professional as well as amateur dancers.
This year the event in Solo involved 221 groups and 6,000 dancers, according to organisers.
Three groups are from Malaysia, there is a Chinese group, and several students from Germany, Mexico, Japan, Canada who are at school at the Art Institute of Indonesia.
Local resident Nico Fachri says that he is proud that his city took part in World Dance Day.
"I am very proud (see this show). As a city with a strong dance culture, I hope events like this will continue to exist," he says.
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