“There is something deliciously knowing about the way Rianto melds the traditional and the contemporary. Ultimately Rianto opens up a space for us…to delight in the erotics of hybridity transgression.” —Witness, Australia

Indonesian choreographer and dancer Rianto presents Medium, an exploration of the Central Javanese Lengger dance, a traditional, cross-gender form rich in history and spiritual depth. Taught by masters, Rianto brings this ancient dance into contemporary light, challenging binary opposites and exploring the spaces between genders, customs, and spiritual states. Medium emerges as a profound narrative of freedom, derived from "elinga ngger" — a call to awareness and memory.

Following the success of his work SoftMachine, Rianto delves deeper into his heritage, intertwining his personal journey with the universal quest for identity and acceptance. Accompanied by Cahwati's live vocal and percussion score, this performance is a testament to the enduring power of Lengger to communicate across cultures, embodying a spectrum of human experience through Rianto's dynamic movement and the intricate relationship between sound and motion.

Funds provided by the NEA Challenge Grant Endowment.