INDEPENDENT EXPRESSION SURAKARTA

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Boby Ari Setiawan, a choreographer, who takes an active interest in developments in the arts and culture, founded Independent Expression.
He participated in national events in Indonesian major cities such as Surakarta, Pakanbaru, Medan, Padang and the capital Jakarta as well as in international festivals .In 2007 the group participated in the Arts Exchange Festival in Chicago.

Performance: Pe’ Thoi
Synopsis

In the local dialect of East Kalimantan Pe’Thoi means “wrapping”. In former times there used to be a ritual dance called “Hudo” in which the dancer wore a costume, the Pe’Thoi, made of palm leaves.

Boby Ari Setiawan explored the deeper meaning of this attire and found out that it symbolized the “spirit of the forest”. The Pe’Thoi inspired the choreographer to create this dance in order to protest against the destruction of the vast Borneo forests by logging, mining and land clearing to set up plantations. 

In Pe’Thoi feelings of anger and fear are expressed by restless movements.

At the same time the dancers worship the spirit of the forest and ask him to safeguard and protect its uniqueness.