Mirrored: Hopera blends classical Italian opera and contemporary dance.

The performance of Italy’s E.sperimenti Dance Company of GDO would make one assume that Italians certainly have a way of conveying words through their body.

Held recently at the Jakarta Playhouse (GKJ), E.sperimenti presented Hopera, a dance routine directly inspired by the classically Italian theater art of opera, particularly the vocal style of bel canto (beautiful singing), but combined with hip-hop culture.

While the imagery conjured up by opera tends to be the female soprano belting out lyrics dramatically, E.sperimenti used the vocals to tell a story entirely through body language.

Movements are nimble, energetic, at times hypnotic as the seven dancers move to arias from Italian opera composers, such as Giuseppe Verdi, Ruggero Leoncavallo and Gioacchino Rossini. 

Though the gestures speak of a modernity belying the poetic verses written centuries ago, the combination of hip-hop and opera seem just as natural.

Some parts of the 55-minute recital have clearly defined plots, further emphasizing the link to classical opera. Yet, the presentation never felt serious, striking a lighthearted tone that at times felt comical and ethereal.

One particular crowd favorite that drew giggles and titters from the audience was when a dancer, clad in dark trousers, decided that he wanted to be part of a larger group, who kept daintily moving away as if repulsed when he was not looking.

Romantic themes are also present in the routine, perhaps paying homage to the lyrical duets that so encapsulate Italian opera. Rather than the slow, sensual dancing typically comes from other romantic routines, the fast-paced delivery from the E.sperimenti dancers resulted in movements that were more urban contemporary than dainty ballet.

It is definitely not every day that one would see someone breakdancing to Mozart, and the audience’s amazement was so evident that aside from the arias, one could hear should a pin drop.

The dancers’ background of classical ballet was clearly on display but the palpable sense of contemporaneity certainly modernized opera into something the audience could enjoy.

Even as Hopera comes to a close, the finale with the dancers performing brief solo routines still blends two different time periods. Movements befitting a Missy Elliott track were performed to Rossini’s “William Tell Overture: Finale”, which for some would invoke memories of The Lone Ranger.

The performance of Hopera was dedicated to celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Italy.

E.sperimente’s visit is part of a cultural tour across Southeast Asia, with stops in the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore. After the performance, the company will also be training dancers from the Jakarta Intercultural School from Sept. 5 to 19.

E.sperimenti artistic and managing director Patrizia Salvatori told The Jakarta Post that the inspiration for Hopera came from her own love for opera, having grown up in a North Italian family that regularly attended operas.

“Normally, opera seems to be very boring for the young generation. My idea is that if you look at opera music in an ironic or lighthearted way, you might find another character. Even if you are young and used to other music, you can still enjoy it and discover something fresh,” Salvatori said.

Meanwhile, choreographer Federica Galimberti said that the combination of classic and contemporary in Hopera was based out of the dancers’ training in various forms of dance.

Created in 2014, Hopera has been performed in a number of countries, including China, Finland and Hungary.

The choice of Hopera for the company’s Indonesian stop, Galimberti said, was to celebrate and pay homage to classical Italian music.

“Every show on the tour is different. In the first show, we performed ‘Per...Inciso’, which uses traditional Italian music. In Manila, Bangkok and Singapore, ‘Convergence’ features electro music, which is very urban,” she said. 

According to Galimberti, Hopera is about the conflict between the mind and body, dreams and reality, whereas Per...Inciso is about “the liberty of the mind and love”, while Convergence takes on “the duality of man and animal”.

Salvatori concluded by noting that she wanted to convey a bridge between tradition and innovation. 

“I always say that you’ll never know what you’ll become in the future if you don’t know your roots.”

— Photos by JP/Wienda Parwitasari

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