Bagong dances on to rhythm of love

Bagong dances on to rhythm of love

Bona Beding, Contributor, Jakarta

The maestro isn't as light on his feet as he was say ten, or even
five years ago, but his love for the arts is stronger than ever.

Bagong Kussudiardjo is a seasoned choreographer who has kept
Javanese dance alive by bringing to it a contemporary edge.

Born in Yogyakarta on Oct. 9, 1928, the maestro's home is
welcoming. He lives with his wife -- his second marriage after
his first wife passed away in 1997 -- in Kembaran village in
Kasihan, Bantul regency. There he has founded his own dance and
arts company -- the vast and famous Padepokan Seni Bagong
Kussudiardjo.

Once, dancers came from across the country and overseas to
learn from Bagong. He generously shared his secrets and dancers
blossomed under his tutorage. Soon his company was invited to
perform at hundreds of venues.

All that is a distant memory; nowadays there are only a few
students. Bagong doesn't hold the stage, but one of his children
who has taken over the company. Every so often, though, he slips
into a class to again work his magic, and teach the students that
dance is alive.

A retired civil servant and the father of seven -- Ida Manu
Tranggana, Elia Gupita, Rondang Ciptasari, Otok Bima Sidharta,
Butet Kertaredjasa, Purbosari Ayuwangi and Djaduk Ferianto --
Bagong also likes to paint.

His subjects are anything that he considers "esthetically
beautiful or useful". And he is not concerned about what people
think.

Bagong also has two galleries where hundreds of canvasses are
hung -- testimony to his productivity and zest for art.

He has been a true artist, never wavering from his belief that
art is the highest form of expression, and that art improves the
quality of one's life.

It hasn't always been easy.

"Relying on the arts for one's livelihood, particularly the
traditional arts, is near to impossible. I made the decision a
long time ago not to worry about how rich I was, but to concern
myself with enriching the arts -- keeping the traditional arts
alive, and developing the arts here as a cultural contribution,"
said Bagong.

In 2003, he was awarded by PermataBank for his long dedication
to the arts and Yogyakarta-based Kedaulatan Rakyat daily also.

Bagong never completed his education at the Indonesian Dance
Academy (ASRI). He dropped out mainly due to the high demands of
performing, as he had continued to dance outside the academy
while studying.

He was popular nonetheless, and was given many chances to
study dance abroad. He was granted a scholarship by the
Rockefeller Foundation to join the Martha Graham Dance Company in
New York. He also studied at Jacob's Pillow University of Dance
in Santineketan in India.

His experiences in Europe and Asia have enriched his creative
ability so that his choreography is earthy yet at all times
elegant.

He also studied traditional painting techniques at Kyoto
University in Japan.

Knowing and understanding Bagong is to trace his long
associations with people from all walks of life. His close
acquaintances include artists, intellectuals, scientists, and
politicians.

"My associations and fondness of reading -- any kind of book
-- has helped me to go beyond classical dance patterns," said
Bagong, who swims twice a week to maintain his fitness.

Bagong's story is one that is best expressed through his poem
Lampu Cinta (The light of love): What will I win? The light of
love illuminates its surroundings with a reddish glow,
penetrating into loneliness, I run while I dance even it's
meaningless. That's the love of a dancer.