Spellbinding in its elegance and fluidity. Broadway World

Ade Suharto and Peni Candra Rini present Ontosoroh

21 February 4:00pm - 4:25pm Queensland Conservatorium - Conservatorium Theatre Dance, Music 25-min Excerpt All Ages

A new collaboration from the next generation of theatre makers in Australia and Indonesia

A contemporary exploration of feminine strength and rebellion, Ontosoroh brings together Australian dancer and choreographer Ade Suharto with Peni Candra Rini, a captivating vocalist and composer leading the next-generation of Indonesian music culture. These two talented artists re-imagine Nyai Ontosoroh, the visionary and heroic female lead in the once-banned literary classic This Earth of Mankind by Pramoedya Ananta Toer.

Ontosoroh is an original new performance that traces a poetic and alluring journey of becoming, of struggle and of freedom. Ade and Peni share the stage with some of Indonesia’s brightest musical talents: percussionist Plenthe, gamelan player Iswanto and Prisha Sebastian on violin. Sung in Javanese.

Image: Arief Budianto

Meet the artist

Ade Suharto and Peni Candra Rini

Dancer and choreographer Ade Suharto is a dance graduate from the University of Adelaide. Having studied classical Javanese dance in Solo, Indonesia Suharto has worked with a number of prominent artists in the Asia-Pacific region including choreographers Boi Sakti, Hartati, Lemi Ponifasio and theatre director WS Rendra. She has an ongoing collaborative relationship with Australian designer and dramaturge Justine Shih Pearson.

Following the success of her first work, In Lieu, which recently made its UK debut at Southbank Centre in London, Suharto teamed up with Indonesian vocalist and composer Peni Candra Rini to create Ontosoroh. Daughter of a master puppeteer, Rini is strongly committed to preserving the musical traditions of her country. She is one of only a few female contemporary musicians who perform sindhen, a soloist-female style of singing.

penicandrarini.com