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Dance explores the dark side of paradise

Sep 25, 2015

Cry Jailolo is a demanding piece for the performers and audience.

It was conceived by choreographer Eko Supriyanto after he participated in a tourism festival designed to promote the Indonesian island of Jailolo, which is among the northern Moluccas (Maluku Islands) and is particularly well known for its famous diving locations.

Jailolo is picturesque and beautiful below the surface, but the coral reef is being eroded by environmental pollution and the community is impoverished.

Darkness can produce beauty, and Supriyanto has used seven male dancers from the area to create Cry Jailolo, a dance piece which reflects the delights of life in the sea and the fighting qualities required of the people and the reef to sustain their environment.

The dance begins with a dark stage and the sound of soft rhythmic drumming which continues for a significant time, deliberately setting up the audience for a mesmeric, hypnotic performance. Gradually, a solo dancer – bare-chested and in red long traditional shorts – becomes visible as he maintains the rhythm.

He is joined by two others, who slowly, ritualistically, mirror each other in front of him; gradually, the entire ensemble joins in the repetitive movements.

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The dance style is a fusion of traditional Javanese dance with a kind of martial arts precision, and occasionally one dancer breaks from the group to perform his own variation on the dance. When united, they move together like a school of fish against a complex soundscape of traditional instruments combined with electronic sounds; when solo, they are fluid, flexible and smooth.

Whether they are representing life in their community, life underwater, or the ebb and flow of the sea, the dancers maintain their synchronicity with defensive, punching moves, showing they have fight and spirit to defend their community and traditions. They continually create formations and patterns, gliding across the stage. It is quite an incredible feat of endurance and there are moments of lengthy stillness when the dancers need a break and the audience has a chance to reflect.

Cry Jailolo is an hour of intense, focused movement which is entrancing and intriguing. As it began it ends, with a solo dancer gradually retreating upstage, maintaining the subtle rhythm and repeating key moves, leaving us to ponder the fate of a pristine and idyllic destination.

Ekosdance Company is presenting Cry Jailolo at the Dunstan Playhouse until September 26 as part of the OzAsia Festival.

Visit InDaily’s OzAsia Festival hub for more reviews and stories

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