International Cross-Cultural Exchange & Creation
East meets West:
Bali + Canada Exchange in Friendship
Conceived of by Jack Paterson & I. Nyoman Sedana
ABOUT
Considered one of the longest uninterrupted performance traditions in the world, the Balinese traditional performing arts are unique, rich, and complex. Deeply embedded in Balinese spiritual life (Balinese Hinduism), virtually every form of music, dance, and drama has its origin in ritual, if not a ritual itself. Practices like Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry) reach back to 1500 BC.
While western practitioners have adapted Balinese practices to meet western audiences and western needs, this research meets mutually and equally in the middle – two distinct cultural rivers coming together through creative exchange of knowledge and combining of practices.
2023
Western Theatre Force Collective, Bouche Theatre Collective, PEPADI Indonesian Society of Wayang Puppetry & Sanggar Paripurna
VARIATIONS IN LIGHT
Inspired by The Ramayana
In association with The University of Saskatchewan & The Presentation House Theatre
Conceived of by Jack Paterson, Made Georgiana Triwinadi, I. Nyoman Sedana, & I. Made Sidia | Devised by the Ensemble
A devised creation inspired by selected elements of “The Ramayana”, Variations in Light was a multi-cultural exchange performed in Indonesian, Balinese & Sandscrit including western devised creation, found object puppetry, new media, projection and instillation and Balinese Traditional Dance, Gamelan Orchestra, and Wayang (shadow puppetry).
Balinese Creative Ensemble Members:
Nyoman Atheny Pramasastra Dewi & Made Georgiana Triwinadi, I Kadek Hendra Adi Saputra,I Wayan Pratama Nugraha, Putu Daniel Ardinatha, I Putu Adika Aryasena, Kadek Suwargita Gadistya Candrakasih, Ida Made Panji Gotama, Ida Bagus Putu Sidiantara, Ni Nyoman Liana Darmawati, Made Anggun Pradnya Paramita, Ni Made Raisa Cening Kirana, I Dewa Ayu Kartika Sari Dewi, I Putu Arya Adi Saputra, Ni Kadek Candra Parameyta, Ni Made Imas Berliana, I Komang Adi Piyana, I Made Danu Pranata, I Made Dwi Darma Putra, Balawan, Pande Kompyang Wiguna Rupatama, Ida Ayu Sri Widnyani, & Ida Bagus Ari Kanaka.
Canadian Creative Ensemble Members:
Joel Grinke, Jack Paterson, Deneh’Cho Thompson, & Vanka Salim.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
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Exploration: Wayang & Legong (finger & eye movements), Front Projection & Live Feed.
Exploration: Legong, Live feed, projection, responsive audio/ visual
Exploration (with PEPADI) Clip: Found Object Puppetry, Projection & Live Feed
Sanggar Paripurna & Bouche Theatre Collective
KECAT – KUTUSKUTUS FESTIVAL
Conceived & Choreographed by I. Made Sidia
Projections by Joel Grink & Vanka Salim
BTC was Invited to participate in a new Kecat creation by I Made Sidia and commissioned by the Kutuskutus Festival. The Kecat, a traditional vocal chant, featured over 100 performers from across all ages and included traditional dance, puppetry, and music from a diversity of Indonesian traditional cultures.
The creation was presented at the Kutus Kutus Festival (Gianyar, Indonesia) and broadcast by Kompas TV Dewata.
Bouche Theatre Collective, PEPADI Indonesian Society of Wayang Puppetry & Sanggar Paripurna
YOUTH FOR PEACE
Conceived of by Della Burford & I. Made Sidia
Created in collaboration with Canadian writer/ artist Della Burford and I. Made Sidia, the Youth for Peace Project was a 30-minute creation with the students of Sanggar Paripurna (ages 8 – 12) incorporating Cross-Cultural Creation, New Writing & Story Exchange, & Traditional Balinese Dance. Languages: Perfomed in Balinese, English, Indonesian, and Sign.
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2023 | Artist Testimonials
Having the opportunity to be immersed in Balinese artistic culture has given me an opportunity to reflect on my own practice. The relationships and new ideas that built during our time will surely lead to future artistic collaborations and discoveries.
The opportunity to witness and participate in artistic exchange with Balinese masters was life changing. My artistic practice undoubtedly grew, but more importantly my artistic Raison D’Etre was transformed to include dynamic and community integrated thinking. As an artist and an educator I am already dreaming of future bilateral transpacific exchange programs that will generate more thoughtful and caring artistry through intentional and generative cross-cultural discourse and co-creation.
I’ve always known a bit about Balinese culture, being raised Indonesian and learning a bit of Balinese dancing when I was very young, but to be able to work closely with local dancers and musicians, to join their spaces, and to have the honour of being invited and participating in so many ceremonies and live performances was an incredible learning experience.
2022
Bouche Theatre Collective, PEPADI Indonesian Society of Wayang Puppetry, & ISI Denpasar
In association with Sanggar Paripurna
WAYANG 4D
Inspired by Traditional Balinese Story
Conceived of by Jack Paterson, I. Nyoman Sedana, & I. Made Sidia
Devised by the Ensemble
A devised creation inspired by Balinese Traditional story on the invention of puppetry in a fusion of Balinese Traditional Performing Aarts and Western Contemporary Devised Creation.
WAYANG 4D was an immersive 5 screen installation incorporated verbatim text, devised creation, Balinese story, Wayang, & Gamelan Orchestra in Balinese, Ancient Javanese and Indonesian. Languages: Performed in Balinese, Indonesian & Sanskrit,
WAYANG 4D was presented as part of Ceremony on National Day of Puppetry at Sanggar Paripurna.
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2019
Bouche Theatre Collective, PEPADI Indonesian Society of Wayang Puppetry, & ISI Denpasar
FOUND OBJECT FOLK TALES
Inspired by Traditional Balinese Folk Tales
Conceived of by Jack Paterson & I. Nyoman Sedana
Devised by the Ensemble
In fusion of Traditional Balinese Performing Arts and Western Devised Creation, this workshop presentation featured the combining Found Object, Physical Theatre (Lecoq & Viewpoints), Verbatim Text with Wayang, Kecat, Arja and Gamelan Orchestra in Indonesian.
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2014
Bouche Theatre Collective, East15 Acting School & The University of Essex, & ISI Denapasar
WASTING TIME
Conceived of by Jack Paterson & Indra Parusha | Devised by the Ensemble
A cross-cultural and cross-lingual experience, Wasting Time was a fusion of Traditional Balinese Performing Arts and contemporary Western Devised Creation created to explore the space between temple, government and tourist driven performance. Disciplines including Wayang (Shadow Puppetry); Barris, Topeng and Joged (Dance); and Genjek & Kecat (Vocal Chant & Song), Verbatim, Site-Specific, Physical and Textual Creation.
Performed in an outdoor found space free for the local community, the performance explored the contemporary issues facing modern Balinese living from Motorcycle traffic jams, potable water, and that wonderful Balinese activity – wasting time.
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About our partners
THE INDONESIAN SOCIETY OF WAYANG PUPPETRY – BALI (PEPADI)
We couldn’t ask for a better or more knowledgeable creative partners and hosts. THE INDONESIAN SOCIETY OF WAYANG PUPPETRY (PEPADI) is the Indonesian national organization of professional puppeteers, puppet makers and other specialty arts expertise (individuals and groups). Founded by General Surono in 1971, PEPADI’s mission is to preserve and develop the art as the supreme treasures of national culture, promote artistic and cultural discourse, enhance human dignity, developing the next generation of professional artists.
Indonesian Institute for the Performing Arts Denpasar (Bali)
Founded in 1967, the Institut Seni Indonesia Denpasar (Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Denpasar) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in Denpasar, Bali. SENI is officially recognized by the Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi, Republik Indonesia (Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia).
SANGGAR PARIPURNA & I MADE SIDIA
SANGGAR PARIPURNA was founded in 1990 by multi-talented artists from the village of Bona, Blahbatuh, and covers a wide range of arts, such as puppetry, puppet building and creation, percussion and music, dance, mask and the art making offerings, and more. Since it’s inception, the studio has been dedicated to the preservation, development and creation of art and culture of Bali. The company is an intergenerational with a special focus on community. www.sanggarparipurna.com.
I MADE SIDIA is an acclaimed innovator in the Balinese Performing Arts. He has collaborated with many national and international productions such as the “Theft of Sita” and has toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, Australia and Asia. He is the co-creator and director of the tourist spectacle Bali Agung Show featuring 180 performers in a fusion Balinese and Western forms.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of:
