“Body Tarekat” is a solo performance that both builds on and departs from physical practices while doing “tarekat”, specifically the Qadriyah tarekat* from Aceh. Tarekat, in general context, is a method or path to get closer to The Almighty by praising his name. For the choreographer, tarekat is life, a way to perceive life and existence itself.
Research and experiments for this work started in 2019 and continues to evolve to the present day. As someone who does “tarekat” frequently, the artist wishes to redefine this practice and its relation to the attainment of The Divine Consciousness in both cultural and choreographic realities. Connectedness is one of the most important aspects in the “Body Tarekat”. This work in particular illustrates several key points of connection, including the dancer’s interconnectedness to his body, heart, and mind; the connection between the dancer and the audience; and the connection between individuals – the dancer and people in the audience – with space and time.
Concept & Choreographer: M. Safrizal (DekJall) | Dancer: M. Safrizal (DekJall) | Costum Designer: Galih Hady Soemarto
M. Safrizal (Dekjall)
The eldest of four siblings, M. Safrizal is a choreographer born in Aceh on August 22, 1996. He began his dance debut in junior high school and later on started his dance education at the Indonesian Cultural Arts Institute (ISBI) in Aceh. Before being known as a choreographer, DekJall - Safrizal’s nickname - worked as a traditional musician. One of his latest works “Frekuensi Rasa”, which talks about violence trauma and its lasting effects on the body, was shown at the 2019 Contemporary Dance Market (PASTAKOM) in Pekanbaru, Riau.