Books, Articles, Video: a Bibliography

Publications relating to Amerta movement  Downloadable pdf, Includes links where available.

1991 Ba Tha Ra Sa Da new arrangement of the aksara Jawa (Javanese alphabet) by Suprapto Suryodarmo. Surakarta: Taman Budaya Jawa Tengah. Also see Embodied Lives (Bloom et al, 2014, pp. 316–317).

1991 Tari Dalam Pandangan Kebudayaan by Ben Suharto in Seni: Jurnal Pengetahuan dan Penciptaan Seni, No. 1, 10 Mei. Yogyakarta: Badan Penerbitan Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI)

1992 to 2005 Impressions: annual international magazine by Sharing Movement, ed., Beate Stühm, Berlin.

1994 to Present Sharing Movement Library publications and video/photo documents. c/o Isabel Moros, UK.

1992 Suprapto Suryodarmo: Portrait of a Javanese Movement Teacher by Christa Stempel-Thul, independent study paper at Murdoch University, Australia

1993 Menimbang Seni Ritual, Menguji Kejujuran Prapto by Ardus Sawega in Kompas, 1 September.

1994 Silences in Solonese Dance Production by Dr. Paul Stange in Journal of Southeast Asian Social Science, Vol. 22, pp. 201–229. https://freotopia.org/people/paulstange/silences.pdf

1994 A Practice called Road by Andrea Morein in Contact Quarterly: Journal of Dance & Improvisation, Vol. 19, No. 1.

1995 Tinjauan Konsep Gerak Meditasi Suprapto B.A thesis by Dijah Endraningsih, STSI Surakarta.

1995 Tari Ritual, Gerak Ngolet Soeprapto by Bagong Kussudiardja in Gatra, 23 September.

1995 Questions in My Hand Luggage: Exploring the Cultural Context of Amerta Movement by Alice Pitty. Self-published paper presented at 3rd Sharing Time: Nature Movement Art in 1997 at Buckfastleigh-Dartmoor, United Kingdom.

1997 Web Art Garden, an idea by Suprapto Suryodarmo. Padepokan Lemah Putih, Solo, Central Java. Published in UK by Sandra Reeve (international facilitator 1997–99), in ACE: Art, Culture, Environment initiative for annual worldwide cultural events for the June 5th World Environment Day.   An international network of people interested in art, culture and environmental issues wishing to share experiences from their own ecology through artistic activity.  Offerings archive and call for participation in future World Environment Days. Web Art Garden  (1997–present)

1999 Amerta Movement. DVD of Summer 1997 workshops and seminars with Suprapto Suryodarmo in Dartmoor, UK. Video Director: Peter Hulton, Centre for Arts Research and Development University of Exeter. https://chronos.exeter.ac.uk/cdf/media_public/catalogue.php?type=101&view=n

1999 Prapto, Amerta Movement film by Daniel Junod recorded in Switzerland, Germany, Greece and 1998 at Parangtritis, Indonesia. Geneva: Moving Deo. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xv4wh

2000 Humannature Ritual Art: spirituelle Körperarbeit in Indonesien by Heike Gaessler in Connection magazine, Germany.

2001 Rituals of Chaos: the movement work of Suprapto Suryodarmo by Alice Pitty in Contemporary Theatre Review, Vol. 11, Part 2, pp. 55–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/10486800108568624

2001 Body Melting/Nature Melting: an exchange between Anna Halprin & Suprapto Suryodarmo by Diane Butler and Jamie McHugh in Contact Quarterly: Journal of Dance & Improvisation, Vol. 26, No. 1, winter/spring.

2001 Suprapto Suryodarmo / Arte y Meditacion en Movimiento with Francisco Chapo Barnett (Seri Tribe) during workshop at Tlayacapan, Morelos, Mexico prior to Celebration Ethnic Art in Time at Xochicalco Temple organized by Geo Legoretta. Video by Carlos Ernesto Vizcarra.

2003 Art Human Nature: An International Gathering of Movement Artists compiled by:

Diane Butler, Evangel King, and Kristine Maltrud; contributing writers: Helen Poynor, Annie Brook, and Jamie McHugh; video stills: Pooh Kaye in Contact Quarterly: Journal of Dance & Improvisation, Vol. 28, No. 2 summer/fall.

2003 Performance and Religiosity a documentary about the work of Suprapto (English with German subtitles). Film by Torsten Konrad and Annelise Soglio, camera: Götz Rogge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXg-q5WsNrc

2005 Dimensi Ritual Seni Pertunjukan di Lemah Putih by Daryono (STSI Surakarta) in Studia Kultura: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Budaya, No. 7, 4 Februari, pp. 94–103. https://studiakultura.weebly.com/uploads/1/8/0/0/1800340/sk-07.pdf

2005 One Lesson from the Garden with Suprapto Suryodarmo video by Digiseni LPPM-UNS, Surakarta. [Indonesian with English subtitles archived on Michael Sapp youtube channel] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpImCoXGU0M

2005 Finding the Bone in the Wind: a Journey with Suprapto Suryadarmo in Bali, Indonesia by Susan Bauer in A Moving Journal: Ongoing Expressions of Authentic Movement, Vol. 12, No. 3

2006 Amerta Movement of Java, 1986-1997: An Asian Movement Improvisation, Ph.D. dissertation by Lise Lavelle, published by Lund University, Sweden.

2006 The Embodied Self: movement and psychoanalysis, Ph.D. dissertation by Katya Bloom, published by Karnac Books, UK.

2006 Tanz Aktuell Annual Yearbook 2006 Featured Artist, article by Michael Magercord, published by Ballet International / Tanz Aktuell, Germany.

2007 Suprapto Suryodarmo Moving in Space DVD by Ana Godinho de Matos. Suprapto Suryodarmo with Phyllida Barlow at her London studio, summer 2006. Chameleoneye Films. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzAJh12jNXQ

2008 The Ecological Body, Ph.D. dissertation by Sandra Reeve, University of Exeter, UK. https://hdl.handle.net/10036/90315

2008 The Prayer of the Butterfly for the SEEDS Festival at Earthdance in Massachusetts, USA. video of workshop available online at: http://www.youtube.com/user/mrbuckwa1

2008 Suprapto Suryodarmo: Art Ritual In Out In by Matthew Isaac Cohen in Seleh Notes: the magazine of the UK Gamelan Network, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 4–6. https://www.scribd.com/document/651637428/Suprapto-Suryodarmo-Art-Ritual-In-Out-In

2008 Suprapto Suryodarmo: Kuno atau Post Modernist by Eko Supriyanto in Majalah Gong Seni Budaya, Edisi 105/IX/2008. http://www.gong.tikar.or.id/?mn=kolom&kd=7

2009 Embodying the present moment: Basic features of an Asian movement improvisation by Lise Lavelle in L. Rouhiainen (ed.), Dance, Movement, Mobility: Proceedings from the 9th International NOFOD Conference, October 23-26, 2008. University of Tampere, pp.106–113.

2009 Tari Sesaji Tri Yoni Saraswati with the World Peace Barong (excerpt version) 5 December for International Plenary of the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Melbourne, Australia. Campfire Film Festival and Image Control (eds). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slb_fzllIgI

2009 Meditasi dalam Tari: ‘Tari Meditasi?’ by Suprapto Suryodarmo. Paper for National Seminar on The Art of Dance in Human Life convened by Jurusan Tari, Fakultas Seni Pertunjukan, Institut Seni Indonesia-Surakarta, 19 Desember. [Meditation in Dance: ‘Dance Meditation?’ translated from the Indonesian by Diane Butler.]

2010 Suprapto Suryodharmo: Meditation in motion by Ganug Nugroho Adi, Jakarta Post, 22 Nov.

2010 Reading, Gardening and ‘Non-Self’: Joged Amerta and its emerging influence on ecological somatic practice by Sandra Reeve in Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices, Vol. 3, No. 2, July, pp. 189–203. https://doi.org/10.1386/jdsp.2.2.189_1

2011 Religiosity in Art inspired by Samuan Tiga and Tejakula, Bali: Unity in Diversity. Ph.D. dissertation by Diane Butler, Universitas Udayana, Bali. Abstract and summary in E-Journal of Cultural Studies, Vol. 5, No. 2, Juli. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/ecs/article/view/3643/2672

2011 Composing while Dancing: An Improviser’s Companion by Melinda Buckwalter. University of Wisconsin Press. [Features twenty-six leading contemporary artists of movement improvisation.] https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/4705.htm

2011 Prapto Amerta: Biografia Visual Suprapto Suryodarmo. B.A. thesis by Ekasanti Anugraheni, Visual Arts Communication at Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta (self-published).

2011 Nine Ways of Seeing a Body by Sandra Reeve. Dorset, UK: Triarchy Press.

2011 Body of Becoming and Progressing into no-Progress by Bettina Mainz and Paula Kramer in Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices, Vol. 3, Issue 1–2, December, pp. 145–150. https://doi.org/10.1386/jdsp.3.1-2.145_1

2012 Opening to Nature – Opening to Human; Seeing and Being Seen. Conversations and reflections from a workshop with Suprapto Suryodarmo; documentation written and compiled by Helen Edwards. Copyright 2011 @ June Avebury Workshop participants, first impr. 2012; repr. 2018.

2012 An Improvised Conversation with Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen and Suprapto Suryodarmo (transcribed by Diane Butler and Kate Tarlow Morgan) in Currents: a journal of the Body-Mind Centering® Association, winter. >here

2012 Bodies, Rivers, Rocks and Trees: Meeting agentic materiality in contemporary outdoor dance practices by Paula Kramer in Performance Research: A Journal of the Performing Arts, Vol. 17, Issue 4, pp. 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/13528165.2012.712316

2013 IVAA Interview: Suprapto Suryodarmo filmed at his home in Solo, Central Java. Video by Dwi and Jaya. Koleksi IVAA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXLzYJo9LSY

2013 Prapto video filmed in Java by Karolina Nieduza, Somerset-based artist, UK

2014 The Place of Dance: A Somatic Guide to Dancing and Dance Making by Andrea Olsen with Caryn McHose. Wesleyan University Press. Chapter by Olsen features practice with Prapto at Samuan Tiga, Bali. https://www.weslpress.org/9780819574053/the-place-of-dance/

2014 Embodied Lives: Reflections on the Influence of Suprapto Suryodarmo and Amerta Movement. Co-edited by Katya Bloom, Margit Galanter, Sandra Reeve. Dorset, UK: Triarchy Press. Note: this anthology consists of essays by thirty contributors from twelve countries: Beate Stühm, Keith Miller, Christina Stelzer, Monika Förster, Steve Hopkins, José Mulder van de Graaf, Sandra Reeve, Bettina Mainz, Daniela Coronelli, Shantam Zohar, Margit Galanter, Sally E. Dean, Lise Lavelle, Susanne Tümpel, Agus Bima Prayitna, Tim Jones, Franca Fubini, Una Nicholson, Katya Bloom, Regula Nell, Sean Williams, Susan Bauer, Helen Poynor, Michael Dick, Simon Slidders, Andrea Morein, Anita Lüdke, Melinda Buckwalter, Ellin Krinsly, Diane Butler; and two Prapto speaking transcripts. https://www.triarchypress.net/embodiedlives.html

2014 Suprapto Suryodarmo in Australia “Awakening in Australia” (1997-2013) by Margarita Playoust Colley and Leonie Northfield. Sydney and Prana Ridge: self-published.

2014 An art project about impermanence of the body by Sister Cittapala. Germany/UK: self-published

2014 ‘The Sacrum and the Sacred: mutual transformation of performer and site through ecological movement in sacred sites’ by Sandra Reeve, in Williamson, A., Batson, G., and Whatley S. (eds), Dance, Somatics and Spiritualities: Contemporary Sacred Narratives. Bristol: Intellect, chap. 18.

2014 Joget Amerta, Meditasi Gerak Ala Mbah Prapto by Joko Narimo in Tumpi online.

2015 Mungguh dan Babaran: Panggung yang Menjadi, Bukan Dijadikan by Helly Minarti in Minarti, H. (ed.) DKJ Choreo-Lab: Process-in-Progress #2. Jakarta: Komite Tari – Dewan Kesenian Jakarta. https://opac.isi.ac.id//index.php?p=show_detail&id=36423#gsc.tab=0

2015  Dancing Materiality: A Study of Agency and Confederations in Contemporary Outdoor Dance Practices. Ph.D. dissertation by Paula Kramer, Coventry University, UK. https://pure.coventry.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/42086243/Kramer2015.pdf

2015 ‘Moving beyond inscription to incorporation’: The four dynamics of ecological movement in site-specific performance by Sandra Reeve, in Hunter, V. (ed.), Moving Sites: Investigating Site-Specific Dance Performance. London: Routledge, chap. 17.

2015 Movement Research: Stories and Journeys by Ria Higler. Amsterdam: SNDO – School for New Dance Development (first impr.); Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (repr.)

2016 Suprapto Suryodarmo – Devon – Bantham – Waving Rock Garden, June 2015 film by Karolina Nieduza. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGCl9B2bAz4

2017 Notes from Open Discussion: Place Making Body/Body Making Place by Julie Nathanielsz. Postgraduate Studies Program, Institut Seni Indonesia-Denpasar, 31 March.

2018 Narasi Gerak Sehari-hari, wawancara Suprapto Suryodarmo by Rizka Nur Laily Muallifa in Buletin Sastra Pawon, Juli.

2018 Suprapto Suryodarmo’s Silent Path, a short movie by Deny Tri Ardianto with Suprapto in Solo, Java. Surakarta: The Rockies Film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcXIMe9WJpY

2018 Mandala Salam Interreligious Music Video 21 December Solstice Screenings and Discussion video [w/subtitles] co-producers: Studio Sembilanbelas of STSI, Padepokan Lemah Putih, ISI Surakarta, International Foundation for Dharma Nature Time, American Gamelan Institute, 1stPictures Indonesia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s0Dm7w7eRY

2018 Human Garden Being in Relax Empty Axis/Empty Space with Suprapto Suryodarmo by Paul Baxter in Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices, Vol. 10, No 2, December, pp. 145–161. https://doi.org/10.1386/jdsp.10.2.145_1

2019 Melihat Indonesia: Gerak untuk Kehidupan short documentary on Suprapto Suryodarmo and his Joged Amerta practice. Director: Eri Kristiana, aired 17 May on Eagle Awards, Metro TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZKwaOY-8ao

2020. NEW LANDINGS: SHARING TIME by Margit Galanter. Presentation for Sharing Time: Megalithic Millennium, Tubaba, Sulawesi, Indonesia, January 24. >here

2020 An Image That’s Alive: Conversation on the image worlds of Skinner Releasing Technique & Amerta Movement by Sally E. Dean, Margit Galanter, Lily Kiara, and Julie Nathanielsz in Contact Quarterly: Journal of Dance & Improvisation, Vol. 45, No. 1, winter/spring. https://contactquarterly.com/cq/article-gallery/index.php#view=an-image-thats-alive

2020 Amerta: Tribute to Suprapto Suryodarmo for the 9th Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival held online. Pre-recorded tributes with Melati Suryodarmo, Diane Butler, Martinus Miroto, Sutanto Mendut, Riwanto Tirtosudarmo, Arahmaiani, Butet Kertaradjasa, Sardono W Kusumo, Bhante Sri Pannavaro; Seno Joko Suyono. https://www.youtube.com/@borobudurwritersculturalfest

2020 Prapto, Candi, dan Meditasi Gerak by Seno Joko Suyono in Tempo, Edisi: 46/48, 01 Dec., p. 90

2020 Inter-Independence by Zsuzsi Kapas in Morrison, M.T. (ed.), Dance Adventures: True Stories About Dancing Abroad. Atlanta: Mtm Coaching and Consulting, pp. 243–258.

2021 Sensing Story: Moving with Amerta and the Living Image at Phihoaan Beach by Margit Galanter. Oakland, CA. March 17. >here

2021 MOVING AND RELATIONALITY: Constellating, Cultural Change, and Amerta Movement by Margit Galanter. Oakland, CA. June 7. >here

2021 The Roots of Amerta Movement: An Introduction to the Movement Improvisation of Suprapto Suryodarmo by Lise Lavelle (posth.) based on her 2006 Ph.D. dissertation. Dorset, UK: Triarchy Press.

2022 Suprapto Suryodarmo in Mencari Indonesia 4: Dari Raden Saleh Sampai Ayu Utami by Riwanto Tirtosudarmo. Jakarta: Penerbit BRIN, pp. 295–299. https://doi.org/10.55981/brin.436

2022 Umbul Donga Mengenang 1000 hari wafatnya Suprapto Suryodarmo opening 1000 Days and Forever at Taman Budaya Jawa Tengah, Solo, 24 September. Produced by Studio Plesungan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdCU46xwq04

2022 Workshop, Srawung, dan Joget Amerta by Albertus Rusputantro, Solo Pos, 10 Oktober

2023 Dialogue Moves: Practicing Research with Amerta Movement by Johanes Koraag in Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) News, 20 September. https://icrs.ugm.ac.id/2023/09/20/dialogue-moves-practicing-research-with-amerta-movement/

2023 Membebaskan Raga, Membongkar Paradigma by Hanny Nadhirah in Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS), Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada News, 22 September. https://crcs.ugm.ac.id/membebaskan-raga-membongkar-paradigma/

2024 Dialogue Moves: Embodying Diversity through Amerta Movement in Indonesia video with footage from: Srawung Rukun / Sharing Harmony, 7-10 September 2023 at Rumah Banjarsari and Pasar Gede Solo, Java, Indonesia culminating the Dialogue Moves research project of Dr. Emma Meehan (Centre for Dance Research, Coventry University, UK) in collaboration with Dr. Samsul Maarif (Centre for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia) with support from Dr. Diane Butler (Dharma Nature Time). Inspired by Suprapto Suryodarmo (1945-2019), funded by the Leverhulme Trust International Academic Fellowship. Core artists: Sitras Anjalin, Agus Bimo Prayitno, Djarot B. Darsono, Ibed Surgana Yuga, Widya Ayu Kusumawardani, Alexander Gebe, Diane Butler. Filmmaker: Panji Wibowo with assistant Dimas Arya AS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm4UBnv0q1E

2023-ongoing  Amerta Basics. Short videos introducing different Amerta movement exercises. Pillar to Pillar, Tree to Tree; Crawling; Naming; Sitting in Communication; Tuning and Adapting; Sensing and Rhythm; Receiving; Stopping; Mouth of the Joints; more. > here

2024 COSMOS AS THE GARDEN. Voice recordings made 2011-2013 in Suprapto’s workshops. Edited and indexed as audio chapters of one to thirty minutes, from 2,000 hours of original recording. For full list of topics and to purchase, contact Karolina Nieduza at nieduzakarolina@yahoo.com.

2024 Amerta Movers Practice Notes / Catatan-Catatan Latihan Joget Amerta, Alexander Gebe, Sharing the Floor, a Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices blog, November 27, 2024.  > here

2025- Dialogue Moves website, hosted by Program Studi Agama dan Lintas Budaya/Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies, Graduate School, UGM. Website in English: https://crcs.ugm.ac.id/amertamovement/  Website in Bahasa Indonesia: https://crcs.ugm.ac.id/jogedamerta/  Information on Dialogue Moves: https://crcs.ugm.ac.id/dialogue-moves-embodying-diversity-through-amerta-movement-in-indonesia/