Prehistoric Body Theater (PBT) is an experimental art-science performance company. We’re based at the “Nest,” our collective jungle studio in Central Java, Indonesia. Our ensemble consists of indigenous Indonesian dancers and performing artists, all steeped in traditional and ritual dance lineages from across the archipelago. Together, we’re united by a shared passion for nature conservation, creative egalitarian community building, and adventure into the unknown.

Our work is a synthesis of traditional dance techniques and cultural practices, cutting-edge experimental stagecraft, and ongoing collaborative research. We work closely with an international panel of mentor scientists, who help us craft dance characters and narratives deeply informed by the latest paleontological theory and evidence.

The initial concept for PBT was conceived by Ari Dharminalan Rudenko, our executive and artistic director. Ari launched the project in 2017 at the Indonesian Institute for the Arts Surakarta with our first cohort of dancers. As our creative family expands, Ari continues to develop PBT while pursuing a Ph.D. in Dance Creation Studies at the Art Institute, writing a bilingual dissertation on our interdisciplinary methodology and first flagship project Ghosts of Hell Creek.