Ghostly Singapore dance to chill Art Summit audiences

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 11/10/2007 5:28 PM | Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Singaporean choreographer Angela Liong is bringing her work The Ghost Exchange Series II to the stage on Friday and Saturday as part of the 2007 Art Summit.

Liong uses technology to create sophisticated visuals and sound effects as part of the performance at the Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural center in Central Jakarta.

The work is also a collaboration with Surakarta-based classical dancer Muslimin Bagus Pranowo, who plays a ghost in the piece.

Liong performed the first series in 2006 in collaboration with Hungarian dancers.

Among Asian choreographers, Liong is known for her exploration of spiritual questions.

She said she saw similarities between the haunting energy of ghosts and modern people.

""Urban people are actually similar in many ways to the concept of ghosts we commonly know. They are usually depicted as lonely beings whose spirit came back to finish something left unaccomplished during their lives,"" said Angela during a break in rehearsals on Friday.

""And modern human beings are no different. Despite their sophisticated communication technologies, they are actually trapped in unsolved loneliness because they have no idea how to communicate with each other.""

Angela said she did not create the work to please the audience. ""I would like the audience to encounter beings they might feel uncomfortable with.""

""Why does it seem so embarrassing for people to discuss ghosts? People simply deny their existence even though some of them may have been in touch with such spirits in their daily life.""

Angela said she wanted to explore this fear and tempt audiences to question themselves and the uncomfortable dark spot in their heart.

""Everyone has a dark side within themselves, their fear and anxiety. And I want the audience to recognize their own fear through the performance.""

""This is an invitation for the audience to embark on a journey to their consciousness and question their life.""

Angela said she hoped her work would broaden the perspective of the audience.

""I don't bring common ghosts like the ones in movies to the stage because the audience would take it for granted and easily guess where the dance leads to. I want the audience to have an internal dialogue,"" she said.

Ghost Exchange will be performed at 8 p.m at Teater Studio at Taman Ismail Marzuki on Friday and Saturday. (lln)

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