Rianto

The Javanese dancer Rianto learnt the gender-transcending ‘lengger’ dance from the old masters on his home turf. As this tradition is under growing pressure from religion and politics, he is fighting to preserve this little piece of culture and the mental in-between-space that the dance represents: the space between being a man and being a woman, between ancient customs and religious principles, and between traditional and contemporary life. ‘Medium’, a deSingel co-production, is Rianto’s universal plea for freedom and the abandonment of dogmatic thinking. For this solo, he collaborates with the leading Indonesian film-maker Garin Nugroho. The piece is certain to offer artistic fireworks and content that really matters. Expect to see virtuoso dance and magical documentary images fused into a single ‘Medium’.