Modern dance group tours during troubling times

Modern dance group tours during troubling times

Zoel Mohamad, Contributor, Jakarta

They originally planned to perform their in September 2001, but
the performance was postponed due to the Sept. 11 tragedy in New
York and Washington. Condors, the contemporary Japanese dance
company, based in trendy Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, psyched
themselves into performing in the Southeast Asian cities of
Jakarta, Denpasar and Singapore as well as in Australia in the
midst of U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Conquest of the Galaxy: Jupiter is a big title for a dance
production performance, but the reception it received proved that
art is thriving in Indonesia, and the two cities were enthralled
by their presence.

Kojiro Yamamoto, one of the performers, asked an excited young
group from the audience after the performance: "Do you want to
see us again in Jakarta?"

After the positive shouts, Yamamoto answered: "We'd love to
come back to Jakarta and Indonesia anytime you call us."

Condors, an all male company, was established in Tokyo by
Ryohei Kondo in 1996 with a strong notion that contemporary dance
is not necessarily difficult and does not have to be dark and
arty. Their omnibus style of dance -- which incorporates a sense
of humor, image and puppetry -- has seen them succeed in the
predominantly female world of dance in Japan. It is not
surprising that the Los Angeles Times said: "This skillful,
endearing guy group knows how deeply escape calls to young people
and how laughter and dance embody it at its most fulfilling."

Kondo, artistic director, choreographer, dancer commented that
"The way we dance is very much influenced by the image and
communication world since we were brought up in the era of TV
variety shows."

Conquest of the Galaxy: Jupiter, staged in Jakarta on March 19
and March 20, was an entertaining performance that gave hope that
contemporary arts did not necessarily have to be beautiful,
artily abstract, difficult to digest, dark in nature and serious
in subject matter. It provided an innovative way of looking at
dance. The work consists of many sketches of dance, theater and
visuals, and they are not necessarily connected with each other
but are rather a spectrum of work resulted from a series of dance
and movement workshops.

They also presented a video clipping on the hotel that they
were staying at and the National Monument (Monas). Perhaps it was
their way of winning the hearts of local audiences and patrons.
Perhaps the work would have been more sophisticated if they had
had more time to prepare.

But overall, the stage, lighting, settings and costumes were
neatly designed in a minimal, but most effective way. The two
video works presented were smart and effective. In fact, the way
they presented themselves at the beginning of the performance
through video animation was very effective.

Kondo the choreographer said he had begun to choreograph
movies, his new passion in choreography. It is no surprise that
he sold all the production tickets within 15 minutes of going on
sale on the Internet in Tokyo due to the company's apt position
in the IT generation of 20s and 30s.

The 10 performers -- including two excellent dancers Ryohei
Kondo and Yoshihiro Fujita, candid comedian Satoshi Okuda, bald
image makers of Kojiro Yamamoto and Keiichi Otsuka -- are quite
strong performers, and it is obvious that they come from various
disciplines of arts. But their concept of artwork works in this
century.

Another rare trait from this production is the presentation of
Condors of the Galaxy: Jupiter in Indonesia by an independent
arts organization, Jelang Era Global.

Jilal Mardhani, the producer of Conquest of the Galaxy:
Jupiter, commented that: "In the era of uncertainty like this,
when government support for the arts is dwindling, it is our
responsibility, lovers of the arts, individuals or corporations,
to support and continue the spirit of creation."