DANCING TO HEAVEN - ASCENSION

Having done a Blog  (May 3) on the dancing Lord and saints following Him, I found this lovely painting of Jesus ascending into heaven, by an Indonesian artist.

 BAGONG KUSSUDIARDJA, born into a Christian family in 1928,  was an Indonesian artist, contemporary dance choreographer and painter.  Bagong’s career kicked off after Indonesia’s independence in 1945. As a dance choreographer, he choreographed more than 200 dances, perfecting his skills by studying  Japanese and Indian dances.

In 1957 and 1958, Bagong trained under the well-known dance choreographer, Martha Graham, known for her boundary-breaking techniques. He then combined the modern moves with traditional Indonesian dances. After his training, he founded Bagong Kussudiardja Center for Dance in 1958, followed by Pade Bagong Kussudiardja Center for the Arts in 1978.

In 1985, Bagong received an honor from the Pope Paul VI award for his fragment Perjalanan Yesus Kristus (The Journey of Jesus Christ). He died in 2004.

        

Google Cartoon for his 89 birthday