Rianto, lengger lanang dancer from Banyumas, Central Java, will give a short lecture, demonstration, and workshop on lengger lanang, a traditional cross-gender dance form from Banyumas. The dance form is traditionally performed as part of fertility rites and harvest celebration in villages in Banyumas’s cultural contexts. Rianto, one of the most prominent dancers of lengger lanang today, performs extensively around the world, and passes down the art form to younger generations in Indonesia. Rianto’s life story inspired the film, Memories of My Body, by Indonesian filmmaker, Garin Nuguroho. The film has received both praise and criticism, the latter mainly from Indonesians for its exploration of LGBTQ topics, resulting in the film being banned in several major cities in the nation. Rianto, joined by Maho Ishiguro, assistant professor of ethnomusicology, will briefly discuss his activisms in reviving the tradition of lengger lanang and making the space for the younger generation of cross-gender dancers in a nation critical of LGBTQ+ communities in an increasingly conservative religious climate.

This program is offered as part of a series "Fluid Gender through Embodiment: Rianto and Lengger Lanang," the full list of programs includes:

Rialto and Lender Lanang: Belonging and Community Justice
Monday, November 18 | 5:30 p.m.
Cox Hall, Level Three

Workshop & Discussion
Wednesday, November 20 | 6 p.m.
Michael C. Carlos Museum
Ackerman Hall, Level Three

Dance and Gamelan Performance
Saturday, November 23 | 3 p.m.
Cannon Chapel

"Fluidity of Gender through Embodiment: Rianto and Lengger Lanang" is organized by Asian Arts at Emory, with support from American Institute for Indonesian Studies.

Programs are free and open to the public.