2023 Balinese Gamelan

The summer of 2023 is a festival interim year.  For those of you still wanting a summertime dance fix this year, the Asia Pacific Dance Festival presents two days of Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance.  Join us for Introduction to Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance Workshops and  a performance entitled Taksu (Radiance): An Evening of Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance.  Both events are free.  The workshops require a registration and are limit to the first 30 registrants. See below for more details.

Introduction to Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance Workshops

Saturday, September 16, 2023
Free

For beginner and intermediate students. No experience in Balinese music and dance required.

Workshops are for ages 7 and up and limited to 30 participants. Please wear comfortable clothing, dancing will be done barefoot Bring your water bottle.

East-West Center Hale Halawai

9:00am -12:00pm: Dance Workshop

1:00pm – 4:00pm: Gamelan Music Workshop

4:30pm – 5:30pm: Talk Story: Introduction to Balinese Music and Dance

Talk and Workshops lead by:

I Made Widana Lecturer, UHM Department of Theatre and Dance; Artistic Director, UHM Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance Ensemble

Annie Reynolds, PhD Assistant Director, UHM Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance Ensemble; Exhibitions and Collections Curator, East-West Center

Taksu (Radiance): An Evening of Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance

Sunday, September 17, 6:00pm
Free
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance Ensemble
East-West Center Friendship Circle

“Taksu” is a Sanskritic Hindu Balinese word and concept roughly translatable to “inner energy” or ” creative soul” or “creative genius” typically thought of as an external entity that chooses a performer to be its vessel. So when a performer has that certain something you can’t quite describe, sometimes even one with less technical prowess than another, but they really captured your eyes and attention as they perform at a particular moment in time, you say “Oh, they have taksu.”

This performance will feature instrumental music performed on live gamelan instruments and dances performed to prerecorded music. This presentation marks the first performance by the ensemble following a 3-year hiatus due to COVID.

Balinese performing arts are well-known internationally for its virtuosity and dynamic character. In Bali musicians and dancers work together to create highly unified performances where the music and dance are interrelated and inseparable. Much of the Balinese gamelan music and dance repertoire has its roots in Balinese Hindu ritual and ceremonial performance.

These events are supported in part by the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the East-West Center Arts Program.