In 2014, I had the pleasure of participating in a cultural performing arts exchange in Bali as part of the East15 Acting School Directing MFA program. As a working director for many years prior to my MFA, to say that my time in Bali influenced my practice would be an understatement.
This fall, I was able to return to Bali to develop future collaborative pathways. My host for this trip was noted Wayang (shadow puppetry) puppeteer I Nyoman Sedana.
The Traditional Balinese Preforming Arts Practices are truly unique. Due to a historical tragedy and a tremendous act of bravery by Balinese leadership in colonial times, the Balinese society was protected from the cultural repression commonly associated with European colonization. As a result, the performing arts practices such as Wayang Kulit reach back thousands of years.
Over a three week period, I would meet and speak with artists and artistic leaders from across the island, participate in exchanges of practice, attend performances at multiple ceremonial events and festivals.
I would also work with the ISI Denpasar Puppetry Department students in a cross cultural exchange research workshop. The project, Balinese Folktales, fused western devising/ creation practices such as Found Object (music and puppetry), Physical Theatre (Viewpoints/ Biomechanics, Lecoq), New Media, and Verbatim text practices with Traditional Balinese Performing Arts such as Gamelan Orchestra, Wayang, Kecak, Dance and vocal Chant forms.
