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."