Kesupen is a contemporary dance work directed by Tony Yap, with choreography srimpi Master R. Ay Sri Kadarjati and Agung Gunawan and from Surya Kencana, Yogyakarta, and performed by Tony and four female dancers in the classical srimpi style from the Yogyakarta Kraton (Palace). Kespuan contrasts Javanese and Western concepts of ‘lost’. In it, Tony’s contemporary dance is counterpointed by classical Yogyakartanese ‘scrimpi’ court dance adapted for this work.
Australian artists Naomi Ota, Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey will develop visual installation and contemporary music score drawing strongly on the local environment and materials drawn from local sources and field trips in Yogyakarta.
This project builds on long-established links between this group of Australian and Indonesian artists since 2005, and numerous significant collaborations which have resulted in works performed in Yogyakarta, Seoul and Melbourne. After developments in 2011 and 2012, the companies will undertake an intensive creative development period in Yogyakarta in January 2015, and offer 3-day professional development workshops for emerging and established artists in both Yogya and Melbourne.
Support:
Early developments of Kesupan have been supported through Asialink and Multicultural Arts Victoria. In 2015, Kesupan is supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria, the Besen Family Foundation, and Asialink.