IKJ offers innovative dance performances
Armando Siahaan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
At the risk of not being well received by the audience due to the perceived unpopularity of experimental dance performance, IKJ Dance Company was nonetheless successful in producing an enjoyable evening.
The performance at Gedung Kesenian, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, which formed part of the Jakarta Anniversary Festival, indicated two things: First, that Jakarta is a multicultural city; second, the metropolis is home to many talented and creative dance artistes.
"Jakarta is a city that hosts many cultures; through tonight's dances we want to show different traditions and to convey different themes", said company manager Nungki Kusumastuti.
"In tonight's performance, we showed it by presenting dances that have adopted different traditions from the West, Makassar, and Kalimantan."
The star performance of the night was surely Seraung Tanaa Sendawar (a title that uses language from Kalimantan), an innovative work that incorporated Kalimantan traditional elements into experimental dance performance.
Trying to convey a theme about damage to the environment due to modernity, choreographer Ignatius Riman did well in creating movements that reflect such a profound theme.
The stage was made to resemble part of a forest in Kalimantan; the lighting was effective in creating a solemn atmosphere, and the dancers also wore attractive, traditional costume.
The musical arrangement also deserved positive appraisal. Not only did they play alluring traditional music instruments, but some of the musicians were brought directly from West Kutai, Kalimantan.
At the end of the show, the performance received uplifting applause from the audience, some giving a standing ovation, and some shouting, "Bravo, bravo!"
The IKJ Dance Company worked in cooperation with the West Kutai regent for this performance to ensure added authenticity.
Although Seraung Tanaa Sendawar was the main attraction of the night, the other two performances were also enjoyable.
Awakening, by Sukarji Sriman, was about human struggle, performed with a simple setting and choreography.
Silence of Love was a rather exotic performance with some Makassar influence, questioning the love of human beings for God as the creator.
Overall, IKJ Dance Company did a great job in entertaining the audience. Many went home impressed.
Nungki said that the company is an institution established to allow professors and students to introduce innovation into their own dance performances, allowing them to expand their creativity beyond the customary boundaries.
This time, their innovations were successful in making Jakarta Anniversary Festival 2005 a night that embraced Jakarta as a multicultural city.