In Reply to: Gemalan in California posted by Rolf Meierhans on Thursday, 26. August 1999 at 19:49 Bali Time:
For your information, Gamelan Sekar jaya was founded in Berkeley 20 years ago by I Wayan Suweca -a professor at the Bali Arts College (ASTI) and widely thought to be the best drummer in the whole of Bali.
The group is a non-profit organization (performing for free for organization) who sponsor Bali's best musicians her each year to teach Americans Balinese music and dance. At the festival on Sat 28th to celebrate their 20th anniversary ,they have invited 5 of Bali's most accomplished musicians and dancers here to perform and direct their gamelan. Many of the permanent members of the gamelan are in fact Balinese people living in America for whom the gamelan is a wonderful home away from home to practise their culture here - also of course there are many Americans in the gamelan with a deep respect and love for Balinese music and the island of Bali in general.
I am at a loss to understand your reaction to a simple expression of respect for another culture and its music.
But for those who do enjoy the music and dance of Bali, please come and enjoy - you will see some of Bali's finest musicians and dancers perform. The concert/festival is from 11 am till 6pm on Saturday Aug 28th in MLK Jr Park Berkeley - admission is free- Silakan datang!