Indian dancer performs in Bandung

Aendra Medita, Contributor, Jakarta

Renowned Indian dancer-choreographer Astad Deboo brings three numbers of his Dance Expression to Selasar Sunaryo Art Space in Bandung on Saturday.

The performance, scheduled to take place at the amphitheater, is not his first. Previously, he performed in Surakarta, Central Java, and earlier this week at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center, Central Jakarta at an event in the ongoing JakArt@2003 arts festival.

Among world-class dancers, Astad Deboo is known for his innovative pieces drawn from classical Indian Kathak and Khatali dances, combined with his knowledge of dance styles the world over. While most dancers dedicate their performances to the Hindu deities Shiva and Ganesha as a form of worship, Astad Deboo, who studied modern western dance techniques at the London School of Contemporary Dance in London, devotes his dances to space and the body, which are integrated into his choreography and accompanying music.

Born in Navsari, Gujarat, the 56-year-old recipient of The Sangeet Natak Academy Award for Creative Dance from the Indian government is now active with The Action Players group, a group of deaf actors in Calcutta, India.

For his show in Bandung, Astad, who is considered to be a pioneer in modern Indian dance, will experiment with forms and concepts of stage performance, promising a stunning aesthetic experience. In artistic terms, the setting will be prepared by artists from Selasar Sunaryo Art Space.

The performance will be closed with an open discussion on Astad Deboo's works with Saini KM, senior lecturer of Indonesian Arts Institute (STSI) in Bandung.

Astad Deboo's Dance Expression, Selasar Sunaryo Art Space amphitheater, Jl. Bukit Pakar Timur 100, Bandung. The show is on June 7 at 7:30 p.m.