Miroto's Banjarmili studio blends with serene nature<\/p>\n
Suherdjoko, Contributor, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
A piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is in the air, while inside a
\ndance studio four dancers move beautifully, performing
\ncontemporary dance movements under the guidance of noted
\nchoreographer and dancer Martinus Miroto.<\/p>\n
From a distance, the sound of water dropping from a
\ntraditional bamboo-made waterspout was heard, creating a serene
\natmosphere.<\/p>\n
The studio, owned by Miroto, is located in a remote village of
\nTurusan, Banyuraden, in Sleman, on the outskirts of Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Creating dances, for a choreographer like Miroto, is a
\nroutine, but he needs a studio with particular conditions to
\nboost his creativity. "My studio must be far from noises and
\nuproars. I need to muse myself in a serene place and become one
\nwith nature," said Miroto.<\/p>\n
For the studio, he chose a plot of land measuring some 2,000
\nsquare meters on the Bedog riverbank. He later named the studio
\nBanjarmili to describe both its physical and spiritual meaning.
\nThe word banjar in Javanese means a place, while mili means
\nflowing. It also has a literal meaning as it is situated on a
\nriverbank, and the presence of the studio hopefully will make
\ncreativity flow like water from the river.<\/p>\n
"I've been wanting to have this studio for a quite a long time
\nbut could only make it come true in 2001," said Miroto, who spent
\nsome Rp 200 million so far to set up the studio.<\/p>\n
The first opportunity to realize his long dream came in 1994
\nwhen he could afford to buy the land, which is located in the
\nsame village where he was brought up.<\/p>\n
"At that time, I didn't have the idea about when I could start
\nbuilding the studio. But I was determined to do so," said Miroto.<\/p>\n
It turned out that he could build the studio the following
\nyear, after the success of his world dance tour Penumbra and
\nIncarnation in 1995. It was with the money he saved from the tour
\nhe that started constructing the studio step by step and
\ncompleted the main building in 2001.<\/p>\n
The architecture of Banjarmili studio was jointly created by
\nMiroto and local noted architect Eko Prawoto. In this case,
\nMiroto came up with the idea and Eko translated it into a
\nspacious building on Bedog riverbank.<\/p>\n
The main stage is located in the main building dominated by
\nJavanese architecture with some four-meter high pillars made of
\naged coconut trunks. It has a 12 by 12 meter stage blanketed with
\nblack carpet where Miroto and his pupils conduct dancing
\nexercises every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
Adopting the Roman stage style, spectators at the studio can
\nwatch the dance at the center-stage below with the flowing river
\nas a backdrop. The river, however, is visible only when the
\nscreen at the back of the studio is opened.<\/p>\n
"To preserve the original landscape on the other side of the
\nriver, I bought the land, just in case an owner wanted to build a
\nhouse there," Miroto said.<\/p>\n
In fact, Miroto has also turned the other side of the
\nriverbank in one of the studio's open stages with nature as its
\nscenery.<\/p>\n
On the eastern side of the river, Miroto also built three open
\nstages outside the main building, giving more room for a
\nchoreographers to develop their imaginations.<\/p>\n
A collaborative work by Miroto and Singaporean choreographer
\nAngela Liong last year used both the inside and outside stages,
\nincluding the one built on the west side of the river where some
\ntraditional bamboo-made waterspouts are located and used by
\nlocals who bathe there each day.<\/p>\n
The studio has become a kind of landmark and pride of the
\nvillage. Built in a pyramid style, with a soaring roof equipped
\nwith a kitchen, dressing room, toilets, living rooms, sound
\nsystem room, lighting system, dance props room and a Javanese
\ngamelan orchestra set, the studio is self-sufficient.<\/p>\n
"But there are still much to be done for it to completely
\nconform to my ideas. For example, I need a space that functions
\nlike a laboratory. But I'll do it in good time ... at my own
\npace."<\/p>",
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