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American singer, songwriter and actress Katy Perry is set to rock the stage in front of “KatyCats,” as her most ardent fans are called, in Indonesia at the Sentul International Convention Center on Jan. 19.

“The California Dreams Tour 2012,” which will be the diva’s debut performance in Indonesia, is her first concert of the year.

Last May, Perry’s Indonesian fans were heartbroken when told that Perry’s scheduled performance at a teen festival was cancelled by the organizer due to “technical reasons.” According to one source, however, the highly anticipated event was a hoax.

With about 9,000 tickets available, the concert’s sponsor, Buavita, said more than half were sold within eight hours of going on sale at the FX Mall in Jakarta on Nov. 27.

Tickets, which started at Rp 650,000 ($71), were also sold at a number of designated ticket boxes.

Yudha Perdana, the brand manager of Ismaya Live, the event’s promoter, said in the press release that Perry’s stage performance would be “totally different and full of surprises,” adding that the “amazing visuals, a massive stage and great production” would be part of the show. Preparations for the concert, he added, would be among the most extravagant in Indonesia.

Perry has released two successful pop albums: “One of the Boys” (2008) and “Teenage Dream” (2010). They followed her two singles “Ur So Gay” and “I Kissed a Girl,” which catapulted her to fame.

In 2011, she won the “Achievement Award” at the American Music Awards as well as the MTV European Music Awards’ “Best Live Act.” For the latter, she beat out Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters.

“Teenage Dream” is by far the singer’s most successful album, with five songs that have become worldwide hits: “California Gurls,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and “The One That Got Away.”

“When I was touring, I wanted people to dance more,” Perry said of her “Teenage Dream” album on her official Web site, katyperry.com. “So I wrote an album that made people move, yet didn’t sacrifice the story substance that I had on the last record.

“I called the album ‘Teenage Dream’ because I feel like I always want to be that pin-up poster. I definitely want to be in everybody’s dreams at all times until I get to Liz Taylor’s age, when I’m not in your dreams anymore and I’m just a diva!”

Known for her edgy and quirky taste in fashion, especially during her shows, Perry — born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson — grew up in a religious family of pastor parents in Santa Barbara, California. In the early days of her career in 2001, the now 27-year-old released a faith-themed album entitled “Katy Hudson” before she adopted the stage name Katy Perry.

Perry has appeared in a number of TV series, including “The Young and The Restless,” “The Simpsons” and “How I Met Your Mother.” She has also made appearances as a guest judge on music-themed reality shows like “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent.” In 2011, she lent her voice to the character Smurfette in “The Smurfs.”

In October 2010, Perry married British comedian Russell Brand at a Hindu ceremony in India, a year after they began dating. The couple met in 2008 during the making of Brand’s film “Get Him to the Greek” and reunited again during the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2009. The couple became engaged while they were vacationing in India a couple months later in December.

The marriage, however, did not last long. Brand filed for divorce on Dec. 30.

“Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I’ll always adore her and I know we’ll remain friends,” the 36-year-old Brand said in a statement, who cited “irreconcilable differences” for the split.

After the concert in Jakarta, Perry will continue her tour in Manila.

Katy Perry
Thursday, Jan. 19
Sentul International Convention Center
For more info, visit katyinjkt.com