BaliFest 2003 Lyceum Theater
Challenge
At the Museum School we believe there is a middle ground to the debate surrounding
quantitative analysis of student achievement. Children are multi-dimensional
and so our curriculum must also be multi-dimensional. It must attend to both
the head and the heart, incorporate discipline but allow freedom, it must be
rigorous but flexible. The study of Balinese Gamelan is an art form that complements
this belief. It blends an intricate structure with expansive creativity and
teamwork. While the results may not fit easily into a quantitative box, Gamelan
and dance is rigorous, and at times, provides life-changing experiences that
our children need and deserve.
Dance Rotation with Kaori, Spring'03
Approach
A gamelan is a percussive instrument resembling a xylophone, in which the players
rely heavily on each other in creating melodies through interlocking patterns.
In performance the musicians take their cues from a drum leader, who, in turn
takes cues from the dancers. Each week, our students rotate through fifty-five
minute periods of gamelan, Balinese orchestra and dance, taught by experts from
the Center for World Music. The children learn to play and dance authentically,
and while doing so get continuous practice with extensive pattern memorization,
complex cross-lateral movement and the basic discipline that accompanies any
performance art Ð all of which benefits their other academic studies. As one
of our fifth graders explained, "dance changed me, because it taught me how
to learn. How to memorize something, and accomplish something." The students
also learn through direct experience the value and beauty of different cultures
and peoples Ð and this directly carries over to their ability to respect, value
and work well with a variety of different kinds of people. As another fifth
grader indicated, "it helps kids appreciate the world more. It would help children
get along better if they knew about that cultureÉand could share it with each
other."
Asia Festival in Pomona 2002
Results
While each student in the school has the opportunity to learn the techniques
and patterning of Balinese gamelan and dance, students who wish to further their
studies can do so as part of an advanced group that meets after school. The
result of this is Puspa Warsa, a group that has performed throughout California
at several prestigious venues, including the Indonesian Consulate in Los Angeles,
The Lyceum Theater, and the U.S.S. Stennis aircraft carrier. The empowerment
derived from these performances is obvious, and evident in the fact that students
who have graduated the Museum School still return to participate. Imagine middle
school students who return to their elementary school to enrich their education.
This, surely, is a sign of success.
Puspa Warsa @ Asian Pacific Islander Festival 2/11/03 Balboa Park
Here are a few pages about some of our special experiences. Click on the links:
Showcase
2003-04 Brandon dances while Puspa Warsa plays. click
to see a movie
2002 First Bali Fest at the Lyceum Theater, sponsored by the Asian Story Theater http://museumschool.sandi.net/bali_fest/index.html
Asia Festival 2002 in Pomona- We were invited to perform by the Indonesian Consulate http://museumschool.sandi.net/asia_festival/all_pix.html
The first year. Our learning culmunated with a grand "Odalan" celebration and performance http://museumschool.sandi.net/bali_dnc-musc/balidnce.html
2003 Puspa Warsa was invited to perform at Freese Elementary and also conducted workshops for the students there. http://museumschool.sandi.net/puspa_warsa/freese2-21-03.html
Puspa Warsa held it's second annual "Balifest " Fundraiser on Sunday, April 6th at 2:00pm. Sponsored by Asian Story Theater, the concert featured our own Puspa Warsa playing gamelan and performing traditional Balinese dances at the Lyceum theater in Horton Plaza. Special guest I Nyoman Wynton, from the World Music program at Cal Arts also performed. The students were quite impressive in their skills and talents. Many dancers had their debut performances. It was a wonderful event!
In the fall 2003, our advance dance students also had a very special opportunity to work with Casey Lee who came down from Los Angeles every week to teach our third graders and Puspa Warsa Balinese dance. Click here to see more pictures.
February 2005 Center for World Music Sponsors two teachers from
Bali, Pak Dewa and his son Putu to come teach our students.
Click to see more
pictures
BaliFest June 9th, 2005 Thursday
Congratulations to Dr. Brown, the Center for World Music, and our Museum School program! The University of Illinois is so impressed with this World Music in the schools program that they are adopting the ideas to perhaps change the music education program for their state, modeling it after what we do here! Wow! The Center for World Music will be moving operations to the University of Illinois. In fact, Pak Sumandhi and Putu (who started the program here 5 years ago and named Puspa Warsa) are planning to be the first teachers in Illinois to get the program started in September! Best Wishes to all!
