14 October 2013

Javanese dancers

Her dainty feet and hands, that half smile on her lips, the neat arrangement of her hair, the delicate touch of make-up on her eyelids and her cheeks, her glittering dress and shiny jewellery: how could I resist from trying to capture the different expressions and postures of those dancers?

I loved how one female dancer appeared haughty when another was displaying a kinder face. I had fun shooting portraits, framed in a close-up or with another dancer blurred in the background. As you scroll through this album of photos, take a look at the position of their fingers and their hands, the symmetry of their movements, the half-closed eyes or the lowered gaze, the small drops of glistening sweat.

Enjoy this collection of fine moments during the dance show offered at the sultan’s palace located in the centre of Yogyakarta. I had difficulties pruning my hundreds of photos to an even smaller set, but being too tired is my best excuse – and liking my own photos too much as well, hahaha. And if you haven’t had enough, write a short essay in the comments section below on similarities and differences with other dances in Indonesia (The spicy story of an Ind(ones)ian epic), in Thailand (Dancing to make dreams come true) and in Peru (On with the dance! let joy be unconfined). Best submissions will receive... my full attention.