My Wayang and I

My Wayang and I is a thought-provoking dance performance exploring how the past can continue to haunt us. It delves into the tension that resides in the body, the pain of exclusion, and the longing for acceptance while celebrating the strength of imagination and the desire to break free from the past. Last year, Afra Ernst returned to Indonesia after eighteen years, pondering the reasons behind her and her mother’s departure. Her intuition proved correct: it was out of pure necessity. This shadowy past is something Afra struggles to let go of, no matter how hard she tries. Through an intricate blend of dance, poetry, and Indonesian artistry, Afra presents a carefully layered performance. Joined by dancers Mauri Kierindoongo, Christiaan Hendriksen, and poet Moze Naël, the audience is taken on an emotional journey of learning to embrace one’s own shadowy past. My Wayang and I powerfully illustrates that we are always stronger than our shadows and leaves the audience with a poignant question: do you dare to confront your own shadows? About Afra Ernst: Afra is a choreographer, dancer, and creator with roots in both Indonesia and the Netherlands. Her work, while deeply personal, carries a universal resonance—an exploration of identity, heritage, and the marks that history and the body leave on one another. With My Wayang and I, she connects dance with memory, physicality with heritage, inviting the audience to see their own shadows without fear.