Wayang: Ancient Art of Storytelling
The Wayang is a thousand year-old Indonesian shadow puppet theater where ancient Sanskrit legends such as the Mahabrata and the Ramayana are told.
In this theater the master puppeteer, traditionally known as the dalang, masterfully uses thin rods to manipulate the movements of the shadow puppet, known as the Wayang. With accompaniment from the gamelan, which is an ensemble of musicians performing on traditional Indonesian metallophones, xylophones and drums, the puppets magically move and dance to tell tales that symbolize ethics, morality, and the triumph of good over evil. In fact, the heritage of the Wayang Theater is deemed so historically rich that UNESCO designated the Wayang Kulit as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003.
On December 8th, the Southeast Asian Students Association (SEASA) will be having the event ‘Wayang: Ancient Art of Storytelling,’ where we will bring in a collaboration between prominent LA-based dalang Maria Bodmann and Boston’s very own experienced gamelan musicians Dr. Brita Heimarck and Erin McCoy. This will be their second collaboration together, coming out of a successful performance in Boston’s Springstep artist series earlier this year. Nevertheless, this mystical yet humorous performance will provide for the audience a rich, creative and entertaining experience while promoting a deeper understanding of Indonesian art, history and culture.
Venue: Cushing 001
Time: December 8th, 8pm
Admission: Free!
Also, raffle to win Wayang ornaments![jathumbnail]
