Diponegoro, a dance theater work, depicts the struggle for freedom and identity in colonial Indonesia.

The piece brings the story of 19th century Javanese prince and Muslim mystic Diponegoro to the stage, telling the tale of one man who led a rebellion against his nation's Dutch colonizers.

Created by renowned director/choreographer Sardono Kusumo and featuring a cast of eight Indonesian dancers and musicians, Diponegoro bridges traditional and contemporary dance to create a work of astounding originality that explores the nobility and conflict of this national hero.

The participation of the Sardono Dance Theater was made possible through the generous support of Citi Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Asian Cultural Council, the New York State Council on the Arts and Medco Energi. Special thanks to the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia.

Read on for more about Sardono, his subject Prince Diponegoro, and Javanese Islam in the making of modern Indonesia.