Didik no longer hurt by 'transvestite' accusations<\/p>\n
Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
\"Well, which one should I go to?\" asked a man standing in front
\nof the men's and ladies' rooms at a restaurant, drawing laughter
\namong troupe members who were having a rest on their way from
\nYogyakarta to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The joke restored the artists' vigor on their long, exhausting
\njourney. The humorous man, definitely an entertainer by
\nprofession, was Didik Hadiprayitno, better known as Didik Nini
\nThowok, a much-traveled Indonesian cross-gender dancer.<\/p>\n
Nearing 50 by the end of this year, he is performing in
\ncollaboration with foreign cross-gender dancers in Yogyakarta
\nduring the third week of December.<\/p>\n
He became interested in cross-gender roles in primary school
\nin Temanggung, Central Java.<\/p>\n
Now he is no longer shy about assuming a female role in most
\nperformances, nor hurt if people call him a transvestite dancer.<\/p>\n
Such male parts, according to Didik, were an ancient tradition
\nin several countries like Japan, India and Europe. In the
\nYogyakarta court under Sultan Hamengkubowono I, a male dancer
\nperformed the sacred Bedhaya Semang dance normally presented by
\nfemales.<\/p>\n
\"In 1974, when I joined Yogyakarta's Indonesian Dance Academy,
\nI was determined to specialize in cross-gender dances because I
\nfelt I was cut out for this art,\" said soft-spoken Didik. Playing
\nfemale characters is compatible with his body's inherently
\nfeminine movements.<\/p>\n
As a fifth-grader, he was less confident in presenting heroic
\nroles like Gatotkaca or Lawung dances. \"I was kind of inhibited
\nin expressing valiant gestures, lacking what the Balinese call
\ntaksu or grip,\" he revealed.<\/p>\n
In dancing, continued Didik, a performer should be able to
\ncombine three technical factors: wiraga (movement), wirama
\n(rhythm) and wirasa (feeling). \"It's this feeling that I fail to
\nexpress in performing valiant roles. So even in college I got
\npoor marks in men's vigorous dances, while in gentler roles in
\nwomen's and men's dancing I scored high grades,\" acknowledged
\nDidik Nini Thowok.<\/p>\n
With this gift, Didik became more deeply involved in cross-
\ngender choreography and became a dedicated dancer, through
\nuntiring efforts to gain broader knowledge from local and foreign
\nmaestros.<\/p>\n
Abroad, he has learned from traditional dancers including
\nSangeeta in Madras, India, Richard Emmert and Sadamu Omura for
\nfolk ballet in Tokyo and Gojo Masanosuke also in Japan.<\/p>\n
He has also received instructions from nearly all leading
\nperformers in Indonesia such as Yogyakarta court dancers Mme
\nYudonegoro and Sasminto Mardowo, women's dance specialist
\nRasimoen from Malang, Cirebon mask dancers Sawitri and Sudji, Ni
\nKetut Reneng from Bali and master of pop creations the late
\nBagong Kussudiardja from Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Didik's perseverance and total devotion to cross-gender
\nchoreography have earned him invitations to all major cities in
\nthe world to stage his work. Last year he spent his entire time
\nperforming overseas.<\/p>\n
Didik will appear in Germany just before his 50th birthday
\ncelebrations from Dec. 13 through Dec. 18.<\/p>\n
\"I see it as a way of funding the Yogya events,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
An artist of Didik Nini Thowok's caliber really deserves such
\na birthday party.<\/p>\n
During his cross-gender dancing career, Didik frequently
\nperformed at the State Palace from the presidency of Soeharto
\nthrough to the term of Megawati.<\/p>\n
He has also created over 100 works characterized by humor and
\nfemininity. \"Now I don't need to deny my existence as a
\n'transvestite' dancer,\" added Didik, who claims to have fully
\nretained his masculinity.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/didik-no-longer-hurt-by-transvestite-accusations-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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