Javanese Dance in the Diaspora: Making Meaning through Dance Practice

The proposed practice-based artistic research accompanies traditional Javanese court dances in three major stations of their diaspora: Java, Suriname, and the Netherlands. It investigates the cultural and artistic specificities of these dances within a global diasporic context, exploring how they can be articulated, amplified, or reimagined through contemporary dance practices in genuine dialogue with traditional practitioners. Concurrently, the research reflects on and explores how it can be made beneficial for members of the communities that safeguard these dances. The project will culminate in dance performances, exhibitions, and a written thesis.