This week I had the fabulous opportunity to learn how to do Indonesian Dancing. The class was taught by dancers from ‘Soeryo Soemirat’, who are an Indonesian dance troupe based at the Mangkunegaran Royal Palace in Surakarta. The class was part of a UK tour for the troupe who are promoting their artistic heritage and culture through a series of events called “Discover Indonesia”.
There were eight students, including myself, from varying dance backgrounds from a complete beginner to a ballerina. But we were all new to this style of dance and the enthusiasm of the teachers created a brilliant atmosphere over the two hour short course. Their laughter, cheerful smiles and abundance of encouragement provided us with the confidence to give each move and stance a try. Especially when we had to hold a pose which included what I can only describe as a combination of a power squat, a ballet plié, flexed wrists and head rolls.
We began with a basic warm up, in which we learnt two hand positions whilst performing the ‘squat plié’ with a banana curved back (please excuse my description of the poses). It was quite tricky to sustain but the professionals looked elegant and poised.
We then learnt the traditional woman’s dance which started in a seated position. The teachers were very strict since we were an intimate class. It was marvellous to receive immediate intricate feedback into the positions and how each one moulds into the next.
The biggest difference I found from other dance styles was that their head movements lead with the chin and consist of diagonal positions rather than vertical ones. Arm movements aren’t harsh but they are straight and precise and often originate from the back of the wrist with the fingers flowing to create shapes and transitions between movements. Feet are often in a turned out position but more horizontal than ballet and can be flexed from the toe joints.
Their youngest students begin learning this traditional dance from the age of five. They breakdown the basics to allow students to build up their muscular strength so they can progress to harder movements.
Another aspect of the dance style is that you can wear masks. These masks are not held on with elastic or other fastenings, instead the dancer has to bite on to them to keep them in place. This forces them to breathe through their noses which is extremely difficult in fast dances as the mask is in close proximity and requires finese to control. It is also tricky and the dancer needs great spacial awareness as these masks only have very small slits to see through which restricts their vision during each performance.
It was an incredible experience and I’m so glad to have been able to get involved. The troupe will be performing some of their signature dances accompanied by the entrancing Royal Gamelan Orchestra on Friday 11th September at 7:30 pm at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and I hope to go to see the performance.
Colourful and sounds like wicked fun. I am excited to learn of this and to know, well sort of know, someone who has actually participated. Brava! 🙂
Great fun, very difficult though, my brother came along with us and he said his legs were shaking with the effort of the prolonged squats.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations Charlotte !! Very nice and interesting – and a new breath technic for you ! Great !!
Exactly, The live show on Friday was great.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Now that you know how difficult the dancing is, I’m sure you will appreciate their performance even more!
I did, the professionals make it look effortless. I took along five friends to the show we all enjoyed it, I love introducing people to classical music and dance.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You really are a glutton for punishment – those moves seem tricky enough without having one’s breathing restricted by chomping on a mask!
I know!! 😳
I’d have never even wondered how they kept the masks on without the lesson, just thought elastic strap or similar.
Headgear is always a tricky thing.
Best wishes
Charlotte
the costumes and shapes look beautiful
The costumes in the Friday evening performance were beautiful.
Best wishes
Charlotte
How exotic! Those moves sound strenuous, and sustaining them while trying to keep a mask in place with your teeth sounds daunting. Congratulations on learning a new technique.
The fighting dance and costumes in the Friday performance were my favourite, in fact the practice stances reminded me a bit of karate. Surprising how unexpected things I do over time crossover.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It is a good thing that you are young and agile! Those moves looked extremely difficult.
I loved the dress, makeup and masks, truly exciting to see. Take care Charlotte.
Thank you, my brother Tom was saying you can tell we haven’t been doing our Karate and dance as much as we used to, as the strength required in the legs was tremendous.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful, and what a lovely dance team. May the Lord continue to bless you Charlotte is my prayer.
Thank you Rev Tim ☺️
Best wishes
Charlotte
That is very interesting that the mask does not hold on by string/elastic but the dancer has to bite on it. Wow.. That could be messy.
I agree, great skill.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a fabulous experience. It looks so beautiful and unique. Thank you for sharing.
I love new opportunities like this, Glasgow is fabulous for cultural experiences.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely photos and fascinating costumes and dance. Thank you for sharing. xo
Silvia, my friend, said she does the most unusual things hanging around with me lol! I was originally going on my own, it was great fun.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hope you get to see this tonight, glad to see you dragged Tom along, looks like you all had great fun! 😘
Did you spot Anna too, we all went to watch on Friday plus two more that we enthused after our lesson.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Sounds fabulous! Hope you enjoy the performance!
Best,
Cate
Yes we did Cate, I’d love to go to Indonesia.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow looks really interesting Charlotte, love the costumes the colours are vibrant.
Hope you enjoy tonight.x
You would have loved it 😀.
Best wishes to you both,
Charlotte
What fun, Charlotte. I know you had a blast, and what a unique opportunity!
I came across it by pure chance looking on the RCS website for something else and thought I’d like to have a go. The professional production on Friday was fabulous.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You sure have such an interesting life. Keep on keeping on. 🙂
I love meeting people and learning about them and their culture, I don’t think I’d ever like to change 😀.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Am very impressed that you gave that a go.
Surely biting on a mask whilst dancing is a recipe for dribbling?!
Hahaha I bet it is, glad to see you’re back blogging ☺️.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Interesting! You are always up to something amazing.
I’ve been told I must learn the art of sitting still 😆. Hehe.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I could definitely teach you about that! LOL
How interesting! Their costumes are beautiful. I hope you got to see them perform.
Yes I did Clare and I can recommend the performance, it’s quite a spectacle.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Glad you enjoyed it.
Best wishes, Clare
How great it must have been to have seen this and been a part of this – it seems you always seek new experiences, which is great!
It’s great living in a City, when I lived at home we didn’t have so many opportunities a short walk away so I always try to go to as many as I can afford ☺️, student ticket prices are great too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Sounds fun, but exhausting doing so many squats. I loved the way you described them.
Dancing? I used to ‘cut a little rug in my day.’ Well…I did. I was a carpenter’s assistant for a bit. 🙂
😆😄 lol
My best wishes
Charlotte
Nice to know this . . . 🙂 im Aziz . . im one of dancers who learn and dance in Mangkunegaran Royal Palace, Surakarta . . . glad to know that they got a chance as well to teach you and friends how to do javanese dance beside they did performance there . Hope you will not stop learning javanese dance there , and also you’re welcome in Surakarta. . 🙂
Salam,
Aziz
abieaboodi@gmail.com
I’d love one day to visit Surakarta 😊, thank you for your lovely message.
Best wishes
Charlotte