Bagong Kussudiardja (read Bagong Kussudiardjo) or better known as Bagong is an Indonesian Choreographer and Painter. Not an ordinary artist, he is an innovator in the field of choreography, painting, sculpture, and poetry that moves in his own beat. He is the father of actor and musician Butet Kertaradjasa and Djaduk Ferianto.
Bagong Kussudiardja was born in Yogyakarta on 9 October from the couple of parents named RB Tjondro Sentono and Siti Aminah. From the marriage of RB Tjondro Sentono and Siti Aminah, was born Kus Sumarbirah, Bagong Kussudiardja, Handung Kussudyarsana, and finally Lilut Kussudyarto. His grandfather, Gusti Djuminah is said to be the crown prince of Sultan HB VII who due to defect, forced to undergo a punishment kurantil (exile).
His childhood is difficult, although he is the grandson of G.P.H.Djuminah, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII's brother, makes Bagong like to work hard. His father, a puppet painter and a Javanese script writer, is less able to sustain family life. Bagong must melakoni various jobs such as patching the tire and so coachman andong.
Careers
after the independence of Indonesia in 1945, Bagong Kussudiardja established himself to develop his understanding of classical art. He danced Japanese and Indian dances.
Bagong started his career as a classical Javanese dancer in Yogyakarta in 1954. He became acquainted with the art through the Kredo Bekso Wiromo Dance School, led by Prince Tedjokusumo, a renowned dance artist.
During 1957-1958, he trained in the United States under the care of Martha Graham. His teacher is a legendary dance expert who is famous for his technique that breaks down the boundaries of that time.
After forging himself in the United States and returning to Indonesia, Bagong Kussudiardja combined the modern movements he learned to raise the prestige of Indonesian traditional dance.
Bagong founded the Dance Training Center (PLT) on March 5, 1958 and Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja on October 2, 1978. During his lifetime, more than 200 dances have been created, in singular or bulk form, including Kite dance (1954), Satria dance Tangguh, and the Resurrection and Birth of Jesus Christ (1968), also Bedaya Gendeng (1980s).
Painting and Film
The grandfather of six grandchildren is also a painter, even including the pioneering art of contemporary batik painting. He is known for painting batik oil paint and watercolors. He worked on a variety of styles including impressionism, abstract, and realism.
All his paintings portray mythical and mystical aspects of Javanese culture, scenery, and of course Balinese dance in their colorful strokes.
For his abstract paintings on display at Dacca, he earned a gold medal from the government of Bangladesh in 1980.
He has also played movies, among others in Kugapai Love.
Performing Arts
• In December 1984 Bagong began the five-month trip to seven European countries. Together with 14 dancers, he held 69 times activities: dance performances, seminars, workshops, batik exhibitions, and batik painting demonstrations.
• On National Awakening Day in Jakarta, May 20, 1985, he performed the Indonesian Historical Track Parade, supported by 710 dancers and extras.
• June 1985, Bagong and 100 dancers appeared on the Parangtritis coast, 27 km south of Yogyakarta. His dance performance dance entitled We Need to Turn to Nature and Prostrate to Him.
• August 1985, he with 15 gig performers in Malaysia, performed Gema Nusantara dance, Igel-igelan, and Ratu Kidul.
• On 5 October 1985 in Jakarta, he presented the ABRI Historical Track Parade involving 8,000 artists, military, hansip, and veterans.
appreciation
In 1985, he received the RI Government Art Prize, and the award of Pope Paul VI on his fragment of the Journey of Jesus Christ.
Die
Bagong Kussudiardja died at Bethesda Hospital Yogyakarta on June 15, 2004. He left three boys and 4 daughters, Butet Kertaradjasa, Djaduk Ferianto, Otok Bima Sidharta, Elia Gupita, Rondang Ciptasari and Ida Manutranggana.
