Nan Jombang: Rantau Berbisik (Whisperings of Exile) October 11, 2012

Presented with Center Stage

Revered Indonesian choreographer Ery Mefri brings his acclaimed company Nan Jombang to the U.S. for the first time with an intoxicating work that incorporates coiled bodies, exacting feats of balance and spellbinding control—punctuated by bursts of chanting, clapping and body percussion. Rooted in the spiritual and martial arts traditions of West Sumatra’s Minangkabau ethnic minority, the company—consisting entirely of members of the Mefri family—incorporates elements of modern Western movement, while touching on current issues faced by Minang society. The resulting dance drama, Rantau Berbisik (Whisperings of Exile), resonantly enacts a time-honored rite of passage: the bittersweet journeys of young men who must leave their native villages to seek fortune out in the wider world.

Official Website: http://www.redcat.org/event/nam-jombang