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According to the Indonesian dancer and choreographer Mugiyono Kasido,
"A country is like a body, made up of various elements, each
with their own function and position. They should be kept in harmony,
otherwise the body will go wrong, become sick and, in the end, die
in misery" - a clear statement on Mugiyono's beliefs in the
metaphorical power of dance.
In these two very different choreographic works, Mugiyono embraces
the entire spectrum of an Indonesian reality located in the gap
between a strongly spiritual tradition and the everyday battle to
survive. In "Bagaspati" (From the sun's soul) he employs
slow, graceful movements and traditional mask dance to create a
mystical atmosphere, gradually yet irresistibly drawing the audience
under its spell.
"Kabar Kabur" (Rumours), though, is a complete contrast.
Dressed only in a white T-shirt and khaki shorts, Mugiyono
stages his performance on a miniscule stage, no larger than
a table, his initially simple gestures slowly becoming transformed,
twisted and knotted, as he fights against his own body in
his T-shirt in a struggle symbolising the turmoil permeating
Indonesia's complex reality. Located somewhere between serious
comment and irony, Mugiyono presents an image of Indonesian
society, an economic, political and social complex where everything
is topsy-turvy, everything is inverted, and nothing seems
to function - and every piece of information is just a rumour,
leading to problems, misunderstandings, and misinterpretations.
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Bagaspati
Dance and Choreography: Mugiyono Kasido
Artistic director: Joko Aswoyo
Composition: Antonius Wahhyudi Sutrisna
Music: Antonius Wahhyudi Sutrisna, Joko Sarsito, Lumbini Tri
Hasto
Kabar Kabur
Dance and choreography: Mugiyono Kasido
Artistic director: Joko Aswoyo
Mugiyono Kasido was born in 1967 in Klaten/Central
Java, grew up in a family performing puppet shows and Javanese
masked dance, and went on to explore various forms of traditional
dance and ritual movement. He received his formal training
in Dance and Theatre at the Indonesia College of Arts (1988-93)
and with dance masters Rono Suripto and Suprapto Suryodarmo.
His first engagement was with Sardono Kusumo, one of Indonesia's
outstanding performers. Mugiyono Kasido created "Mati
Suri", his first piece, in 1992; since then he has developed
23 works.
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