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Friendship Through Dance

How the Dance Project Began:


Marcel De Rijk, Puri Mas Founder, had been associated with dance all his life. His parents owned the most successful dance school in Utrecht Holland. Coming from the Netherlands, Marcel boasts winning 20 times the Dutch Professional title together with his sister Ratna De Rijk. They made the finals of all major World Championships in Ballroom, Latin and Ten Dance. Marcel and his sister Ratna were also finalists in the famous Blackpool – British Open to the World Championships.


After moving away from the Netherlands and living full time in Lombok, Indonesia, Marcel saw there was a want and need for the people of Lombok to join dance. In the beginning Marcel created the Lombok International Dance Studios. Having such amazing support from his students and friends in dance around the world, Marcel also started the Lombok International Dance Festival which later became the Indonesian Open Dance Championships which was held annually up until June 2022. These Championships also encouraged Professional and Amateur dancers, guests, and other tourists to visit Lombok who otherwise might never have found this idyllic island – hence the title “Holiday n Dance” was also founded by Marcel who was a pioneer of tourism in Lombok.


Marcel’s believed that young people should be encouraged to learn Latin and Ballroom dance as a part of their education. He felt it was particularly important in Lombok to create a respect and friendship between young people from all different religions and social backgrounds. Using “Friendship Through Dance” as a medium, these young people become one.


Besides the Social elements and benefits of the dance project, the young people learned the following: Interaction between male and female on a positive level, showing respect and understanding for one another. Other benefits which are incredibly important for the young people are their health and fitness, balance, coordination, musical interpretation, discipline punctuality and confidence building. Dancing lessons are traditionally an expensive activity, therefore the only way to achieve success in attracting young people to dance in Lombok was to offer them dance lessons for free.


Marcel and his team of volunteers invited young people with kartu belajar – an ID card to prove they are studying at lower or high level education, to join dance classes held in their Mataram International Dance Studio, and in the Puri Mas Ballroom and International Dance Studio. This project began with just 20 young people, and over time grew to include more than 120 students. After one year of mostly social dance instruction, the young people are able to join Dance Sport competitions as athletes, in competitions run under the official Indonesian Dance Sport Organisation IODI, which is recognized by KONI, and the Olympic Committee in Indonesia. This form of social activity helps these young people for their future. It helps them to gain confidence, and indirectly can help them in their education and work for the future.


Two of Marcel’s students became Under 21 National Champions and many of the students travelled overseas to countries such as China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, the UK and more. This valued project including lessons, competitions, clothing, and travel was funded indirectly by the guests who stayed in Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa. The guests did not sponsor directly, but funding was made available from the company through the income of Puri Mas.


It was a way for Puri Mas, Marcel’s company to “give back to the community” using the “Friendship Through Dance project”. The support of the Puri Mas guests has been outstanding over the years, and we thank everyone for their contribution.


During the Covid Pandemic the project continued but Puri Mas was suffering from the decline in global travel, and was no longer in a position to fund as it had in past years. Marcel kept the dance training going, even during the covid years, with the students regularly training and new dance groups of adult ladies starting up. These ladies were now trained by Marcel’s students who had developed enough dance skills to become instructors themselves.


Sadly in late 2021 Marcel became unwell, and on Friday 3rd of February 2023 he departed this world. Marcel left behind an amazing legacy of dance as well as his beautiful resort Puri Mas. His students continue to dance, and to teach and the resort continues to enjoy the company and support of both return and new guests who can enjoy seeing a history of Marcel’s life of dance recorded in photographs displayed in the Ballroom at the Puri Mas Beach Resort.