Scene & Heard: Born to Dance

Paper Edition | Page: 24

While Didik Nini Towok is famed for his svelte frame and limber dancing, he has also penned three books: one on the transgender issue, an autobiography and a book about stage make-up. He will soon complete his fourth book Bali Kang Cing Wi, about a Chinese princess married to a Balinese king.

“I’ve gathered information about people of Chinese descent in Bali. For example, there is a Chinese temple near Lake Batur and a Chinese castle around Kintamani,” said Didik, who is also ethnic Chinese.

When he is not writing and holding performances, he teaches from Monday to Saturday at a dance institution in Yogyakarta. His packed schedule makes Didik appreciate all the free time he can get.

Holiday time is for…

My eight-year-old son. We usually go to malls and just make time for each other. Sometimes we watch movies. The last movie we watched was The Amazing Spiderman. I often think about my dances during this free time, so holiday time also means seeking dance inspiration.

The perfect time to take a holiday…

I usually take holiday time during the course of my work. I’ve been invited to dance abroad. There is always a day off in between performance schedules, so I usually make time to take a tour around the city. For example, when I went to Japan to perform, I made time to visit some temples there.

My work has allowed me to holiday in some of world’s best destinations. I don’t have to allocate a specific time and budget to go on holiday.

Most memorable holiday in experience…

I think each place has its own charm. Niagara Falls in Canada is beautiful, Vatican City in Rome is amazing and Antoni Gaudi’s architecture in Barcelona is stunning. I am also lucky that I’ve been to the Madame Tussaud’s museum in London.

My dream holiday destination…

I still want to visit many places. I will go to Germany and then to the US in September.

My favorite food…

Sambal (chili paste), vegetables and fruit. I’ve been reducing my food intake because of my age. +Tifa Asrianti