August 16, 2019
Dancers from NUS Ilsa Tari embarked on a tour to Indonesia in July to learn new techniques and gain insight in to the craft from highly acclaimed professionals at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts (IKJ). This involved a series of intensive masterclasses conducted by the teachers of IKJ whose lessons ranged from body techniques, the art of Silat, exploration and expression to choreography.
While the exchange was definitely physically challenging, it also encouraged the dancers to go beyond their limits mentally and emotionally. Having to choreograph their own contemporary piece and display an improvised performance, dancers pushed themselves to break their own boundaries, to imagine, create and feel the performance.
NUS Ilsa Tari’s President, Suraya Binte Suhairi (Year 2, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) and Vice-President, Nurfaizzah Namirah Binte Foad (Year 2, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) describe the experience.