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Eko Supriyanto’s dance explores shared history
Indonesian choreographer and dancer Eko Supriyanto’s latest choreography show, Ibu-Ibu Belu: Bodies of Borders, translates the collective memory of living together among the people of neighboring East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia and Timor Leste into a full-body expression.
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Shared history: The performance features six non-professional dancers from East Nusa Tenggara and Timor Leste. The peoples of these regions once lived alongside one another, but are now divided along national lines. (Courtesy of Komunitas Salihara/Witjak Widhi Cahya/-)
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ndonesian choreographer and dancer Eko Supriyanto has been consistent in his creative pursuit of exploring the dance forms of peoples living in the eastern parts of Indonesia for the past several years.
His choreography series has included the Trilogy of Jailolo, inspired by his experience and immersion working together with the people of Jailolo in West Halmahera, North Maluku, comprising Cry Jailolo (2014-2015), Balabala (2016) and Salt (2017).
Now, as a result of a process that took about a year and four months, Eko is exploring new frontiers, highlighting the likurai dance tradition in Belu, West Nusa Tenggara, which also embodies some shared heritage with neighboring nation Timor Leste.
The result is a dance called Ibu-ibu Belu: Bodies of Borders, which premiered at the Komunitas Salihara arts center on Feb. 6 and 7, featuring six female dancers: Marlince Ratu Dabo, Feliciana Soares, Angela Lavenia Leki, Yunita Dahu, Adriyani Sindi Manisa Hale and Evie Anika Novita Nalle.
The international production was supported by the East Nusa Tenggara regional administration, Asia TOPA from Australia; SPRING Festival from Utrecht, the Netherlands; Teater Im Pumpenhaus from Munster, Germany; the Performing Arts Meeting from Yokohama, Japan; as well as Komunitas Salihara and the Ratnasari Langit Pitu in Jakarta.
The performance featured all non-professional dancers from the area, true to Eko’s mission to groom new local talents in the dance world.
