Murtala

About

Music in Me Summit presenter

Originally from Aceh in North Sumatra, Murtala is a distinguished choreographer in Aceh, Indonesia, and one of the few artists in his region to hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Dance. He began his dance journey at the age of eleven at Sanggar Mandaya in Banda Aceh.

His primary expertise includes Acehnese body-percussion dances, sitting song-dances, and Rapai Geleng – a seated group dance performed with the rapai, the traditional Acehnese frame drum. Murtala is frequently sought after as a cultural and academic reference on Acehnese dance.

After graduating from high school, he continued pursuing his passion for dance by studying at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Padangpanjang) for seven years. Alongside rigorous practical and theoretical dance training, he was also introduced to the world of contemporary dance. During his studies, he created several works, including Berpangku Kaki (2002) and Hantu Hutan Tahun Tuhan (2004).

Shortly after the 2004 Aceh tsunami, Murtala returned to his hometown to take part in emergency relief efforts. He undertook various roles and responsibilities, including the evacuation of the deceased and logistical coordination. As part of his contribution to the community’s recovery, he founded a local NGO where he taught traditional Acehnese dance as a trauma-healing method for children affected by the tsunami and conflict.

In 2008, he pursued a Master of Dance at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Surakarta, Central Java. Since then, he has travelled to various provinces across Indonesia, as well as to Australia, Europe, Fiji, and Singapore, teaching Acehnese dance and music to primary school students, high school students, and university students. Murtala also actively performs at festivals across Australia, teaches choirs, and participates in theatre and film. Some of his dance works include Rapai Ombak (2010), Rantau (2012), Ratoh Gaki (2018), and Cicem Story of Migration with Alfira (2021)

Murtala received the Cultural Leadership Award from the Australia Indonesia Institute (DFAT) 2023. In 2024, he was commissioned by AsiaTOPA to develop the work Bunyi Bunyi Bumi, in collaboration with senior First Nations artist Raymond Blanco. The work premiered as a headline production at AsiaTOPA Melbourne 2025.

His first solo dance work, Gelumbang Raya, will premiere at the Sydney Festival co-commisioned by Bankstown Arts Centre in 2026, exploring embodied memories brought to life through movement.