Sigma puts on somber theatrical performance

Sigma puts on somber theatrical performance

Armando Siahaan, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

A combination of absurdist choreography, gloomy music and a
dark, simplistic setting produced a somber evening at Gedung
Kesenian, Central Jakarta.

It was an unusual way to celebrate the upcoming anniversary of
the city.

Sigma Dance Theater, through a show titled Si Tua di Kamar
Belakang (The Old Man in the Room at the Back) sought to depict a
sad reality about an old man who had dedicated his life to
raising his children to be a success, but was paid back with
ungratefulness as he ended up living at the back of the house
with no facilities.

Benny Krisnawardi, the choreographer, did a good job in
creating dance movements that conveyed the story. The pace of the
plot was rather slow, with the first half showing the old man
dancing, probably to express frustration at his isolation.

The dancers did well. Flexible and elastic movements were one
thing, but what made their dancing praiseworthy was their genuine
appreciation of the choreography.

The second half showed a group of dancers, dressed in
traditional clothing. This time, the dances needed perfect
coordination, especially as they used props such as plastic
chairs and a flexible stick. Although it was imperfect, there was
never an eye-catching blunder.

Credit should also be given to the musical arrangement, which
continuously created a spooky atmosphere. Without it, the
performance could have been very tedious as, even with the music,
many in the audience appeared somewhat bored.

Sigma Dance Theater is a contemporary group that likes to
experiment with its dances with the intention of offering
something that is rich in expression. It may be rich in meaning,
but experimentation tends not to attract much popular interest.

Perhaps that is the reason why only about 20 people attended
the one-hour show, with many leaving the building unimpressed.

If one expected that Jakarta Anniversary Festival would
consist of nights of jubilant festivity, this performance will
surely be a disappointment. It was the exact opposite -- pure
solemnity.

It might be true that this show pointedly depicted an
unfortunate aspect of the city's culture, in which the elderly
tend to lose their influence within society to the point of being
ignored, perceived as being impotent to contribute to the
dynamism of the metropolis.

But, what is questionable is whether it was appropriate to put
on this performance amid preparations for Jakarta's anniversary.
Many would prefer a joyous dinner with a tasty cake rather than
having people judging all your flaws and mistakes at a birthday
celebration.

This year's theme for the festival is "Jakarta, the City of
1001 Cultures". It was perhaps unfortunate that they decided to
perform something that represented only the dark side of a city
that is about to experience another annual celebration.