Expect surprises, not a flamenco flurry

JAKARTA (JP): Praise has been heaped on the Second Art Summit Indonesia 1998 committee's decision to bring in some of the world's best dance groups, like Japan's Yukio Waguri or Germany's Bremer Tanztheater.

Critics and public alike are enjoying the artistic delights. Music and dance shows have had to post sold-out signs a few days before performances, including for Spain's Diez Diez Danza.

With performances on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta in Central Jakarta, the troupe is obviously pleased, summed up by a rare genuine smile from company leader Monica Runde.

Summit committee member Yusuf Susilo Hartono is pleasantly surprised by the huge turnout for the performances.

"I know the art circle and I can spot an art buff a mile away... those coming to these (Art summit) shows include ordinary families who usually prefer going to the movies."

He wondered it if could be attributed to the "exoticism" of the unknown. But novice spectators should forget about being treated to a round of flamenco dances -- Diez Diez Danza dances in another, more modern direction.

With eight participating countries and considered the most prestigious art festival in Indonesia, the summit opened on Sept. 19 with local legendary dancer Gusmiati Suid's choreography.

Diez Diez Danza's performances are the last dance shows of the summit. Previous dances were presented by Gusmiati and Miroto, Bremer Tanztheater and Yukio Waguri.

Diez Diez Danza, found in 1989 by Pedro Berdayes and Runde, has toured worldwide and participated in several international festivals.

The troupe is a delightful composition of six members who have conspicuously different personalities.

Runde is a tall, lean woman with slightly hard features and long blonde hair, who always seems to have the two corners of her mouth holding down a smirk. She answered all questions for her troupe members, with help from a dancer who whispered her translations.

Say Pedro Berdayes for the first time, and an exotic, masked Antonio Banderas double might come to mind. Think again. Berdayes seemed very meek and soft-spoken in comparison Runde.

Bald, blue-eyed Tongi, a French dance student who was selected by Berdayes himself, sports a nose ring and favors 1970s-style tight black-and-red shirt and pants.

He seemed more vocal than Gema, a 23-year-old with yellow sunglasses, red socks and a lip ring. Pierced through her upper- lip, it obviously did nothing to clasp her lips shut, but she was strangely quiet. According to Runde, Gema is a very fast dancer.

Their characters will hopefully come out in their performances. The first dance, A Kiss, is by Berdayes and tells of falling in and out of love. The second, a quartet, is Runde's and the third, titled Anyway..., is a collaboration of both choreographers.

Runde said the troupe -- which practices for two hours a day compared to the Bremer Tanztheater troop's 10 hours -- will present more of "physical disciplines than emotions" in the second piece.

"Gema is a really fast dancer but she has to move with the flow of the dance if it is a slow one. I am a slow dancer and I have to catch up if it's a fast one," Runde said.

"It (the second piece) will be more about physical disciplines. The last piece is basically a humorous capping of the journeys both me and Pedro have taken together in the dance world for 10 years."

Runde and Tongi explained the dances were a mesh of classic and contemporary choreography, and were mainly based on American and European ballet. They are largely influenced by Germany's legendary Pina Bausch, but they said their dances were more about telling stories than abstract pieces.

Runde said the dancers worked like a family.

"Initially, when they (dancers) come in for audition, they think they know how we work. After two weeks, they leave.

"We only take good dancers and those who are dedicated to team-work." Diez Diez Danza -- or "10 & 10 Dance", Runde said, stands for the best.

"Ten is the highest grade given at school, so 10 and 10," she explained.

Big ticket sales aside, let us hope the troupe can live up to how 10 is defined by Indonesian audiences. (ylt)