Expect surprises, not a flamenco flurry

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)