Ovando School May Day

A Cultural Tour Around the World

May, 2013

Gamelan in Bali, Indonesia

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From Japan the students headed south, to Indonesia. Madeline helped us get a better perspective on their interesting culture. The dance they performed was called "Thousand Hand Bodhisattva," originally choreographed by Zhang Jigang and performed by 21 hearing-impaired dancers. While Indonesia is predominantly Muslim today, Bodhisattva is a Buddhist concept. Much of Indonesia practised Buddhism and Hinduism before converting to Islam, and concepts from the past are integrated into the culture of today.

In the kids' production, music was provided by a gamelan, played by the guys, and the girls did the dancing.

A gamelan is a complete set of instruments; the instruments travel as a group. They are tuned to each other, and are meant to stay together -- instruments are generally not interchangeable from one gamelan to another. The instruments typically include a gong, drums, xylophones and mettalophones. The gamelan existed in Indonesia even before the Hindu and Buddhist cultures arrived -- it is a native art from of islands.

Guys with the Gamelan
Carson, Brandon Styles, Jen Slayden (music teacher), Abram, Kyle, Brady, Will


Girls Gamelan Dance

Ella, Madeline, Sadie, Hattie, Iris, Courtney, Zia, Mandy