Performance’s experience
It is important to remark that during years I have been promoting Indonesian arts and culture in Ecuador, especially traditional dances, sometimes in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy KBRI Quito. One of my purposes is putting on stage the Indonesian dances, so the Ecuadorian audience can enjoy them and be aware of this rich culture. On my spectacles I use to make dance demonstrations and explain the story, meaning and philosophy of the dances to be performed. In this occasion, I produce, choreograph and perform the dance show “Topeng: Mask Dances of Indonesia and Ecuador”, which was released on July, 2020. The first part of the program was a demonstration of the traditional Jogjakarta dance Klana Topeng Sewandono with the audience’s participation. The second part was the dance related in this article: “Bujang Ganong and the Huaca Cuniraya. An encounter of two worlds”.
This was the first time in the history of Ecuador that Indonesian mask dances were performed here by Ecuadorian dancers. After the show, people got astonished, excited, thankful and curious. For them was a never-imagined dance performance, something full of meanings, colors, music tones, philosophy and attraction at the same time. Their feedbacks are for me a sign that I must keep showing and promoting the lively Indonesian arts in my country. I strongly encourage Indonesian artists to spread their culture abroad; everywhere, audience’s response to Indonesian traditional arts is moving, warming and interesting.
The next step would be to take this performance to Indonesia, to its several National and International Dance Festivals, and being danced by me and Indonesian dancers to finally merge the cultures and dance styles. The idea is not only putting on stage the present spectacle, but also work in collaboration with local dancers to create new dance pieces using traditional Ecuadorian and Indonesian masks and dances like demons, clowns, animal and warriors.
My ultimate goal is to bring the Indonesian and Ecuadorian cultures together, for despite the distance we have remarkable cultural similarities to be explored and displayed. If any of you, who are reading this article, is interested in sponsoring this work or to collaborate to create new dance works in order to merge cultures and foster beyond-the- seas encounters, please do not hesitate to contact me: ecoedgar33@gmail.com.
