----- Original Message ----- From: "Holy Uncle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:24 PM Subject: [tourismindonesia] If women ruled the world . . .
> Saturday September 22, 2007 > > If women ruled the world . . . > > By SHEELA CHANDRAN > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > The dominant role of women and their power to rule are apparent among the > Minangkabau people of west Sumatra, who practice a unique matriarchal > system, in which family property and wealth is passed down from mother to > child. This unique structure or way of life is strongly influenced by the > worship of Mother Earth and nature. > > Intrigued by these customs, Dutch Indonesian theatre thespian Gerard > Mosterd > (right) has created an abstract multimedia dance performance that pays > tribute to the matriarchal practice of the Minangkabau. > > Themed pARa_DIsE . . . a woman? BunDo kAnDuanG, the thought-provoking > performance poses the question as to whether the world would be a better > place if women ruled. > > "I have been interested in matriarchal rule. According to the Minangkabau > way of life, women have power and authority. I have always wanted to find > out if it were a woman's world and if they made all decisions, would the > world be an ideal place to live in?" > > The 43-year-old Netherlands-based choreographer learnt classical ballet, > contemporary and folk dance at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He > also > studied tai chi and elementary Javanese court dance. > > The performance also highlights Mosterd's interesting view on how humans > are > connected to the world. > > "Basically, people live in two worlds - the horizontal and vertical world. > People living in the horizontal world are connected to nature and people. > Those residing in the vertical world are self-centred, living in > skyscrapers > with male- invented intellectuals. In this world, the economical hierarchy > takes us away from where we come from. > > "Most west Sumatrans live in a horizontal world where they are not > concerned > about monetary issues. Most are uneducated and unaware of power of money. > Sometimes, the less educated people are, the more beautiful, sincere and > connected they become. > > "These simpletons do not think of economic adventures and are not > concerned > over political issues. The scenario is different in big cities where > people > are bullish, self-centred with a need to participate in an economic > capitalist lifestyle," he elaborated. > > The one-hour multimedia dance theatre is a collaboration between Mosterd > and > renowned Sumatran, Bessie Award-winning choreographer Boi G. Sakti. (The > New > York Dance and Performance Awards are called Bessie Awards.) > > For the performance, Boi takes his starting point from an old Minangkabau > myth, Bundo Kanduang, which is about an ancient powerful queen mother. His > dance material is complemented by video in which seven dancers perform a > modern dance with Minangkabau influences. > > A multimedia presentation will provide the backdrop during the dance. It > will feature images of skyscrapers in Indonesia's capital Jakarta, > Minangkabau women, their community and nature. > > pARa_DIsE . . . a woman? BunDo kAnDuanG was conceptualised in Indonesia. > This production will be performed in Singapore, Thailand, the Netherlands > and some European countries. > > o pARa_DIsE . . . a woman? BunDo kAnDuanG will be presented at Pentas 2, > The > Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), Sentul Park, in Kuala Lumpur > tonight at 8.30pm and at 3pm on Sept 23. Entry is by donation: RM30 and > RM20 > (students, senior citizens and the disabled). For more information, call > (03) 4047 9000 (The Actors Studio), (03) 2094 9400 (KLPac) or browse > www.klpac.com. > > http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/22/soundnstage/18915171&sec=soundnstage > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get a FREE small business Web site and more from Microsoft® Office Live! > http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/aub0930003811mrt/direct/01/ > > > > Ingin bergabung? Kirim email kosong ke: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Klik: > > http://tourismindonesia.blogspot.com > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.27/1020 - Release Date: > 20/09/2007 12:07 > >
