Indonesian choreographer Hartati returns to Singapore with a powerful dance meditation on post-Suharto realities.

Indonesia’s renowned contemporary choreographer, Hartati, brings her celebrated work Jarum dalam Jerami (Needle in a Haystack) to the Esplanade Theatre Studio in Singapore on 2 and 3 May 2025. Part of the Esplanade’s Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts 2025, this deeply evocative piece explores the unseen forces that continue to shape Indonesian society after the fall of the New Order regime.

Originally premiering at the Alek Mandeh – Festival Budaya Matrilineal 2022 in West Sumatra, Needle in a Hasytack is Hartati’s dialogue with history, inspired by her mentor Gusmiati Suid’s acclaimed 1997 work, Api Dalam Sekam (Fire in the Husk). While Suid’s choreography captured the turbulence of Suharto’s twilight years, Hartati’s vision investigates the quieter but no less potent forces that linger long after political upheaval has faded from headlines.

Through an intricate blend of traditional Minangkabau elements and contemporary dance, Hartati challenges audiences to reflect on what remains overlooked in the rush towards progress. The performance distills Indonesia’s complex socio-political shifts into a stunning physical narrative, expressed through the nuanced movements of a dynamic nine-member ensemble.

Needle in a Haystack invites viewers to reconsider the cost of freedom and the resilience required to preserve essential but easily forgotten cultural and social threads. “Festivities often sweep us into euphoria,” Hartati notes in her choreographer’s statement, “but we must remain alert to the subtle, unseen forces that shape our reality.”

The production, supported by Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, features original compositions by Jumaidil Firdaus and Taufik Adam, complemented by costumes from M. Fahmi and lighting design by Ricco Fadhillah. With no intermission and an advisory regarding hay-induced dust, the experience promises to be intense, thought-provoking, and immersive.

Jarum dalam Jerami (Needle in a Haystack)
Fri, 2 May 2025
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (GMT +08:00)

Sat, 3 May 2025
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (GMT +08:00)

Location:
Esplanade Theatre Studio
1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981

For more information visit here.

Source: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay