Exclusive interview with Joachim Schlömer

A Touchy, impressive show

The atmosphere was a bit formal during the premiere probably as it was attended by numbers of diplomatic corps, some dignitaries, artists, celebrities.

The performance was officially opened by a warm speech of Swiss ambassador to Indonesia, followed by a significant explanation of Goethe Institute's Program Officer. Everybody was eager to enjoy a rare occasion of intercultural dance theater performance.

The first piece was Gumarang Sakti's Asa (diujung tanduk) - A Hope (on top of horn). It was a dazzling dance, solid, terrific, at the same time touchy. Gusmiati Suid, assisted by her son Boi G. Sakti had successfully presented her newest creation.

After the show, when many fans were congratulating her, she asked: "Well, do you see a hope?" The reply was a confident yes. Then she sighed "That's the most important thing, I am glad if we still have a hope."

The second piece was Stadt - Land - Fluss. It was a fascinating image of a journey to the countryside, a place nearer to the nature, physically illustrated by display of some palm leaves & manipulating of brooms of coconut midribs. It was not a journey to an empty place. There were human beings engaged with their daily world.

The dance movements were fantastic, following deeply to the beat of traditional Minang music.

It was a successful journey, the man come back in a good shape & fresh mind. The spectators praising highly the performance by repeated long ovations.

Gusmiati Suid & Joachim Schlömer & all the crew saluted

back by throwing bouquets of red roses to the audience.

"You trust me, then you see everything"

It was Joachim Schlömer's confident statement during an exclusive interview, took place in the cozy office of Farida Oetojo, the General Manager of Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (The Jakarta Performing Art Theater), two hours before his second performance, on Saturday, July 24, 1999.

In a clear & smooth expression, he further said: "I'm inventing my own way in my performances. Usually in a year I make 4 or 5 creations. For every piece, normally it took 2 or 3 years of serious preparation. I absorb everything what I've seen with my own eyes, what I've experienced, what I've felt of the object, the nature, the people & the environment. I never take any photograph & I never write what I have in minds. Everything is here", pointing his finger firmly to his head.

Smilingly he added: "But when I come to studio, after meeting some people & see the preparation, I can change completely the entire plan in one day!"

In surprise we asked: "But why, is it due to spontanity of your creative feeling as an artist?"

"No, it is a form of reacting, I just react to what I see. It is intuition."

Question:
"In your choreography, you always use nature as a background, it seems like a gesture to back to nature"

Schlömer:
"That's right, back to nature Shakespearean way. It's mean that you are still what you are. You still have your normal live, you need knowledge etc. I see nature with my free fantasy. It's more precise through nature I expose human life & its activities. The relation between nature & human being, so the focus is on human life."

Question:
"You have created several choreographies with various topics in different countries. Do you see same adaptation to the people you encounter?"

Schlömer:
"No, I do not believe to one & same adaptation to people. There are different adaptation to different people. The most important thing, I have to use a proper & suitable adaptation to people, so they could get the idea."

Writer:
"What is your plan in the future?"

Schlömer:
"I would have a theater, but not an ordinary opera which they can perform. It is a place where people can do something they like.
maybe together maybe not,
maybe to do something maybe not
maybe some people will go after three years
who knows, something might happen.
Right now, I am still young, I do not want to focus to only one thing."

Without a slight of hesitation Schlömer told us that in his carrier as choreographer despite success, he had also challenged by failure & vulnerability.
"Yes, it's true, I admit. But every time I have to overcome it by improvement" he said honestly.

Than the conversation focused to the first performance of Stadt - Land - Fluss.

Despite a warm appreciation shown by a long ovation by the spectators after the premiere of "Face to Face". Schlömer told us very seriously that he makes a lot of improvements for tonight show.
"This afternoon, I changed a lot of things. I have worked it out with the dancers, musicians as well as the lighting. You'll really like tonight performance" he said confidently with full of enthusiasm.
The interview lasted almost one hour, it was a frank expression of an artist with a great international name. He had disclosed a lot of thing everything was so sincere. It was really a precious "Heart to Heart" encounter. We shook hand warmly, wishing him a big success for tonight performance. After the show, we found that what he said was true. It was a tremendous show!

Suryo S. Negoro

Relationship | Tanztheater | Intercultural Dance Projects and Events | Dance Institution in Indonesia

HOME