Balancing the Body Thirst

With dancing, guarding the sun to circulate the earth from yesterday’s horizon until the next morning.

Thousands of human swarmed as if they were moved by a magical power, assembled around moving bodies with scarves, stomps, and meaningful gazes. Spectators and dancers mingled together without limitation; the stage melted in the middle of shouts of joy. From 6 am, they came together in commemorating the World’s Dance Day 2009.

The party started on the park of The Arts Institute of Indonesia (ISI) in Surakarta on 29th April and ended at 6 am the next morning. Not less than 52 repertoires were presented like the dishes in a big celebration. Titled Reaching for Equality, Tolerance, and Compassion, this exhibition, which was open to the public, received many compliments.

Dancers from the Higher School of Indonesian Arts (STSI) Bandung, The University of Sebelas Maret, The University of Diponegoro, Unesa Surabaya, UPI Bandung and several art studios from Solo and several other regions came to attend the invitations. And the breath of these human spirits was Nuryanto Kembul.

Throughout the day, for 24 hours, from 6 am on Wednesday, 29th April 2009 until 6 am on Thursday, 30th April 2009, he did not stop to move around. Nuryanto made love with his own body. He did not dance anymore. The connector between his soul and his rhythmical movements was no longer a scarf or a song. Nuryanto Kembul had become the dance itself.

Although he looked worn-out, the instructor of delicate man dance and costume make-ups did not give up. “I am proud to be given this responsibility as the connector The dances presented by all dancers in this celebration gave me their souls, that what made me able to dance for 24 hours” said Nuryanto Kembul who has trained for one hour a day in the last month.

After the opening ceremony at topengan of the Rectorate of ISI Surakarta, it was the turn for students of a school for children with disabilities (SLB) who followed the thirst of their soul to move as they like. Aerobic dance also got a turn. The same thing for Reog from Ponorogo. The art carnival, which was attended by dancers and endured for 24 hours near the campus road, marked the beginning of the rituals.

Because the body is the belongingness of every human being, on that day not only the dancers that could dance. Eko Supriyanto, an international dancer, strengthened this conviction, “Dancing is the nature of every human being” he said. And Eko who had danced on a stage with Madonna could feel the magnet of Nuryanto Kembul. He danced behind Nuryanto.