Three week program: June 30-July 19, 2008
For the second time, Cudamani will invite a select group of 35 individuals from around the world to participate in the study of Balinese music and dance in Bali, Indonesia.

Images: 2007 Summer Institute   -   Çudamani Website

Summer Institute - With the success of the 2007 summer program, Çudamani will once again invite a select group of 35 individuals from around the world to participate in a rigorous study of Balinese Music and Dance in Pengosekan. Dates have been selected so that participants will have the opportunity to see ceremonial activities of this village, which is well known for its community of painters, weavers, and musicians. In addition to intensive classes with master artists/teachers, the program will include: visits to temple ceremonies and sacred sites; observations of a wide range of performances including Çudamani rehearsals; and daily encounters with the local artists and the community.
This program is a rare opportunity for participants to be a part of one of the most vibrant and creative cultures in the world.

Background - In the village of Pengosekan, Ubud, Bali, across the street from the temple, is a family compoundthat is the home to Çudamani, comprised of young virtuoso musicians and dancers. The company is famous for teaching, performing, and preserving the rich and rare classical Balinese repertoire. At the same time the five active composers in their ranks creatively contribute to both traditional and contemporary music,dance and shadow puppet projects.
Çudamani has provided gamelan and dance instruction to hundreds of young people over their ten years of work inPengosekan. To their credit they are one of the few organizations in Bali that teachers gamelan to girls--a realm that until recently, was reserved for males. The company's technical accomplishments on the seven-toned Semaranandana are unparalleled and their musical versatility is respected in educational circles and sought after by major American composers. Çudamani and its members have toured Italy, Greece, Japan, and the U.S. In 2001, Çudamani received a grant from the Ford Foundation for their work in preservation, innovation, and education. In 2007 the company toured their critically acclaimed production: ODALAN BALI to 12 cities across USA and Canada.

Artistic Team
I Dewa Putu Berata: Program Music Director
Emiko Saraswati Susilo: Institute Dance Director

To Apply: We invite individuals who wish to work intensively with other artists from around the world. Applicants must be 18 years or older.

Selection Criteria:
# Prior experience in Balinese Gamelan music or dance recommended but not necessary
# Demonstrated musical or dance training
# Proven interest in living within another culture

APPLICATION: online submissions - click here> (please note the form will open in a pop up)

Fees: 3 weeks $1,950. Includes instruction, shared housing, breakfast, lunch, and excursions. Non-refundable application fee of $25.

Work Sample: VHS/DVD/CD of music and/or dance samples. 10mins in length. For Musicians: Work sample may include footage/recording of a performance by your Gamelan ensemble. For Dancers: Work sample may include footage of your performance in any dance form.

Housing: Participants will reside in centrally located hotels in Ubud. Accommodations are double occupancy and arrangements made by the program.

Meals: Daily breakfast and lunch is provided by the program. Also included are the Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner.

Travel: Participants are responsible for making own travel and visa arrangements as well as travel health
insurance.

Excursions: 3 major excursions for this program will include visits to the sacred sites, witness ceremonies and attend performances.

Dates to remember:
Application must be received email by January 25, 2008
Application fee $25 and Work sample must be mailed by January 25, 2008
Notification February 15, 2008
Tuition fees due April 1, 2008
Last day to cancel with receive 50% refund June1, 2008
Summer Institute Bali June 30- July 19

Make checks payable to Interdependent Productions. Mail check and work sample to:
UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance
Glorya Kaufman Hall
120 Westwood Plaza, Ste 188
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone: 1-310-206-1335; Fax: 1-310-825-5152
www.cudamani.org; s.rodriguez@ucla.edu

What the 2007 Participants are saying:
I came away with a deep respect for the integration of the arts into daily and ceremonial life in Bali, and sadness at their estrangement in western culture. Rosemary Candelario. Dancer/Choreographer, 2007 participant

...the access to master teachers - I was honored and humbled over and over again by the talent, skill and artistry of our teachers, all of which they so lovingly shared with us. Rosemary Candelario. Dancer/Choreographer, 2007 participant

The strength of the institute is the opportunity to be completely immersed in Balinese culture through learning music/dance, yet with enough Western teaching methods to facilitate our learning. Donna Eshelman. Dancer/choreographer, 2007 participant

I know that many Americans come to Bali to take lessons individually, but getting to do this through a group
situation, in which we were able to form something of an ensemble by the end, and in which I was able to form a connection with a group of people who feel just as seriously passionate about the music and culture as I do,
seems to be really special. Lynda Paul. Musician, 2007 participant

I got to spend a lot of time with a lot of fabulous musicians, listening to and playing and practicing gamelan
several hours a day. I felt inspired every day, and I feel like I'm definitely hearing gamelan music differently
now than before the program. Lynda Paul. Musician, 2007 participant

I now have a much better understanding of the relationship between the music and dance, and, a greater sense about what it means to have a community ensemble of musicians who actually work together, play together, collaborate, and live that spirit through their music-making. Lynda Paul. Musician, 2007 participant

The performance in the temple was the most important for me. It was brilliant to have been able to perform in a meaningful celebration and to apply whatever had been taught for that purpose. Elaine Pedly, Malaysia. Dancer/choreographer 2007 participant

Cudamani Press

16 days, 35 events...

...music, dance, visual arts, & theatre...

  ...classical, traditional, & contemporary...

Email: info@festivalofsacredmusic.org

About the Author

Garrett Kam (I Nyoman Swastawa) was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has lived in Bali for many years, and since 1990 has served as a ritual assistant in one of the island's most important temples. He has written extensively on Southeast Asian art and culture. This is his first novel.

http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0052.html

This is a message from Parum Samigita which is the Think Tank for the Banjars (Village Councils) of the Kuta, Legian and Seminyak areas of Bali. It comes from the heart of the Balinese people at ground zero in Kuta and was delivered at a press conference 100m south of ground zero yesterday. It expresses what the people of Kuta want to say to the world. Please, if you can, help them to get their message across. This message may be published or passed on.

Parum Samigita has been coordinating relief efforts for the Balinese and migrant Indonesian families who have been dispossessed by the bombing. Now We Move Forward! Sekarang Kita Maju!

25th October 2002

We Balinese have an essential concept of balance. It's the Tri Hita Karana; a concept of harmonious balance. The balance between God and humanity; Humanity with itself and Humanity with the environment. This places us all in a universe of common understanding.

It is not only nuclear bombs which have fallout. It is our job to minimize this fallout for our people and our guests from around the world. Who did this? It's not such an important question for us to discuss. Why this happened; maybe this is more worthy of thought.

What can we do to create beauty from this tragedy and come to an understanding where nobody feels the need to make such a statement again? This is important. This is the basis from which we can embrace everyone as a brother; everyone as a sister.

It is a period of uncertainty. It is a period of change. It is also an opportunity for us to move together into a better future. A future where we embrace all of humanity in the knowledge that we all look and smell the same when we are burnt. Victims of this tragedy are from all over the world.

The past is not significant. It is the future which is important. This is the time to bring our values, our empathy, to society and the world at large. To care. To Love.

The modern world brings to many of us the ability to rise above the core need for survival. Most people in the developed world no longer need to struggle to simply stay alive. It is our duty to strive to improve our quality of life.

We want to return to our lives. Please help us realize this wish. Why seek retribution from people who are acting as they see fit? These people are misguided from our point of view. Obviously, from theirs, they feel justified and angry enough to make such a brutal statement.

We would like to send a message to the world - Embrace this misunderstanding between our brothers and let's seek a peaceful answer to the problems which bring us to such tragedy.

We embrace all the beliefs, hopes and dreams of all the people in the world with Love. Do not bring malice to our world. What has happened has happened. Stop talking about the theories of who did this and why. It does not serve the spirit of our people. Words of hate will not rebuild our shops and houses. They will not heal damaged skin. They will not bring back our dead.

Help us to create beauty out of this tragedy. Our community is bruised and hurting. Our spirit can never be broken. Everybody in the world is of one principle brotherhood. Tat Wam Asi: You are me and I am you. We have a concept in Bali, Ruwa Bhineda, a balance between good and bad. Without bad there can be no good. The Bad is the ësiblingí of the Good. Embrace this concept and we can move forward into a better world.

You love your husband and wife but sometimes you fight. Fear arises and shows its opposition to love. This is normal. This is a natural, essential part of life. There is Sekala / Nisikala - the underworld forever in darkness merging with our world in the light.

These are the concepts by which we, as Balinese, live our lives. Please, we beg you, talk only of the good which can come of this. Talk of how we can reconcile our apparent differences. Talk of how we can bring empathy and love into everybodyís lives.

The overwhelming scenes of love and compassion at Sanglah Hospital show us the way forward into the future. If we hate our brothers and sisters we are lost in Kali Yuga (Age of Darkness). If we can Love all of our brothers and sisters, we have already begun to move into Kertha Yuga (Golden Age). We have already won The War Against Terrorism.

Thank you for all your compassion and love,
Asana Viebeke L
Kuta Desa Adat
Parum Samigita

Despite an unparalleled effort by individuals and groups from around the globe, a potential humanitarian disaster of immense proportion looms in front of us in the immediate future.

An estimated 80% of the Balinese and migrant Indonesian workforce is likely to be unemployed within 3 months due to the exodus of tourists from the island. The governmental and social support systems currently in place do not have the ability to obviate this huge potential tragedy which is already beginning to dwarf the immediate effects of the bomb blast itself.

We must coordinate to ensure the survival of the island and people we love so much. At present the actions of the majority of developmental bodies in Bali remain largely scattered and uncoordinated. Whilst an enormous amount of "good" is being done on the ground by organizations such as Bali Hati, Ibu Peduli and the BIWA, utilising the generous donations of a saddened world, a grave need is seen to create a Coordination Centre to oversee and unify these actions.

It is essential that the activities of these various bodies are integrated with, amongst others, national and local government, the armed and police forces and the Desa Adat in order that a concerted effort can be made to rebuild not only the infrastructure of Bali but also her image as portrayed to the rest of Indonesia and the World at large.

To ensure that there is no overlap and, more importantly, nothing and no-one is overlooked, all plans and actions need to be integrated into a harmonious whole, where differing ideas and strategies can be discussed and a beneficial consensus swiftly reached.

The timing of this coordination is vital. If we lose the impetus of the current wave of support for Bali, the momentum for change within all her political and managerial systems, then we are doomed to return to a pre-modern Bali which will no longer have the resources to support itself.

We will invite a professional director to run the centre. Maybe an Indonesian who is beyond reproach or a foreign "figurehead"; possibly a director of UNICEF or a Nobel Peace Prize recipient who has the experience and skills necessary to manage such an enterprise.

We would like the large international funding bodies, such as the I.M.F., World Bank and O.D.A. to enter into a new paradigm in creating a New Bali which does not return to a seedy nightclub scene but which propagates the essential spirit of the island.

Embracing the Tri Hita Karana, the essential balance between God and Humanity, Humanity with itself and Humanity with the environment, we wish to return Bali and her people to a safer and more harmonious way of life. This will also attract "a more understanding tourist" to Bali the enthusiastic traveller who will enhance the lives of the Balinese rather than degrade them.

The mandate will be to operate with people from all organisations who really care about Bali and her people. Working with conscious awareness, utilizing local and worldly knowledge and being completely legitimate in its operation.

Clean governance is essential to the success of this project. That is why we must ensure that a professional director with the highest integrity is selected to oversee the operation of the centre.

It is important that all financial transactions are conducted with utmost clarity and accountability. We would like to involve an international accounting firm in this, such as Price Waterhouse, Coopers and Lybrand or Ernst & Young. Monies will be completely accounted for at all stages of their use and details published on the Centre's web-site.

The Coordination Centre will be a repository for the skills and information needed to conduct such an enormous effort. All agencies will operate from there in a constructively managed manner. Data will be gathered from around the island, and specific needs identified. These needs will be submitted as funding proposals and each discussed. They will be accepted or rejected on their merits, those which are rejected will be given notification of why and suggestions will be made towards their re-crafting to meet the criteria of the funding groups involved.

Those requests which are accepted by the Centre will be submitted to the appropriate body for funding. When a project is underway, it will be monitored as to its effectiveness and care will be exercised to ensure that it is satisfactorily completed.

When complete the project will be documented by its participants and the report published on the internet. In this report, every cent will be accounted for, with payments, receipts and recipients clearly matched and justified.

The role of the stakeholders in the business infrastructure of Bali, as well as those in the various government bodies, is paramount in the planning and implementation of the Coordination Centre. The professionals who live and operate in the community will facilitate the building of the New Bali with a spirit of cooperation and cohesion which has not been seen on such a scale here before, although it was demonstrated "in vitro" during the immediate aftermath of the bombing.

In a wider sense the stakeholders are everyone who lives or works on the island. Among others, governmental, private, religious, community (both Indonesian and foreign), academicians, DPRD, NGO and state organizations, such as the police force and the office of immigration will all work together to ensure we achieve our goal. Those who care will ensure that those who couldn't care less are not able to subvertthis process.

Right now we have a unique opportunity to ensure that the human and physical resources in Bali work together for our common good. To build the capacity of everyone involved in creating a more harmonious, more ecologically sound Bali, a more just and equitable society with a membership and transparent governance which can "re-invent" itself.

Our physical and social resources comprise a unique and beautiful landscape, a sound basis in law, economy and management, strong leadership, physical and personal development and advancement of all levels of the workforce.

The collective movement must be based in Hukum Desa Adat, the laws and customs of the traditional Balinese way of life. We must work within Balinese culture to ensure its survival. The needs and aspirations of the Desa Adat must be paramount in this process.

A formalisation of the relationships between Desa Adat and the stakeholders must be created in order to prevent ego-centric conflicts and disharmony, to protect Bali from governmental or individual arrogance and bullying and more especially, corruption and nepotism.

We must embrace globalisation in a Balinese way to ensure that we are not overrun by it. Globalisation will arrive anyway and without a coherent face towards it we'll become a "Shopping Mall With A Balinese Theme".

A suggestion for the temporary location of the Coordination Centre is the Paradiso hotel in Kuta and this is where we will have our first meeting on Saturday November 9th at 9am. Time is of the essence in this initiative. If we drag our feet then we will lose momentum and those who wish to build regardless of environmental, aesthetic and social costs will be allowed to do so.

We invite participation from those who care. Elements of thinker, doer and clown must be incorporated as well as those who play the role of Devil's advocate. If we don't coordinate on the rebuilding of our island, then the Bali we have known will be gone forever. Without a safe and positive front to display to the world, tourism will be unlikely to recover.

With a united front which displays our Unity in Diversity, we will provide a role model for the entire world. Far from the "Kill Kill Kill" response of the American authorities to the 9-11 tragedy, Bali is uniquely placed to display a gentler, more humanitarian response.

Please work with us on this to create harmonious music from Bali's remarkable "symphony orchestra". Help us ensure that the redevelopment of Bali is for the greater good of the island, her people and the entire world.

Thank you,

Asana Viebeke L
Parum Samigita
Kuta Desa Adat

6th November 2002

Bali International Women's Association

Has set up the hotline and crisis centre for all nationalities for counseling and assisting incoming family members to locate missing victims. The crisis center is at the Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar Tel. 257-500, as well as crisis centre at the airport. They are also involved in setting up a medicine distribution centre. Longer term efforts will be focused on assisting the children of the bombing victims and the rehbilitation and/or reschooling of severely injured who can not do their job any longer. You can send financial donations to:
Bali International Women's Association
Bank BCA **
JL. Hasanudin, Denpasar
AC: 040-150-3501
**Note that BCA is waiving bank transfer fees for donations to these disaster funds!
For more information, see the BIWA Web site www.biwabali.com, or contact Muriel
Ydo, BIWA President at lootsydo@indosat.net.id

Bali Disaster Relief Fund - Bali Hati Foundation

One of the many reputable foundations receiving and distributing financial donations is the Bali Hati Foundation in Ubud. Bali Hati is a highly respected organization within Bali with an excellent track record in creating coordinated, transparent, long-term programs. Bali Hati has been successfully pursuing the following mission since August 1997: "To create compassionate self-sustaining and effective community based programs designed to identify and meet the evolving needs of the Balinese and Indonesian people whom it serves. To engage students and compassionate individuals and organizations in community outreach projects that enhance the educational and social conditions of local villages. To support spiritual and intellectual growth both individually and in the community." In the spirit of this mission, Bali Hati is responding with all resources at its disposal to the Kuta bombing and its aftermath.

The Bali Hati Foundation
US$ Fund
ATT: Max Lloyd
401 El Caminito
Carmel Valley, CA 93924

The Bali Hati Project is legally registered in the US under the umbrella of the National Heritage Foundation. Donations are tax deductible.
Within Indonesia donations can be sent to:
Bank: Bank Central Asia (BCA)
Branch: Ubud, Bali
Account Name: Yayasan Bali Hati
Account Number: 135-0-03640-3
SWIFT Code: CENA IDJA

**Note that BCA Bank is waiving domestic bank transfer fees for donations to this disaster funds!

For more information contact:
Donations and Volunteer Opportunities: email: casalunafund@yahoo.com
Media Relations: email: idep@dps.centrin.net.id or www.casalunabali.com/relief