Hope College will present Arts Midwest World Fest, featuring Çudamani from Indonesia, on Tuesday, April 16, at 11 a.m. in the first floor Rotunda of the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication.
The event was originally scheduled for April 18 but will now be held on April 16.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
The members of Çudamani live on the island of Bali, the largest tourist destination in the country of Indonesia. Comprised of a core membership of 31 young virtuoso musicians and dancers, Çudamani is a professional company with a working philosophy much like a family temple or “sanggar.” Members see themselves as a community of leaders who, through their music and dance, positively contribute to the artistic, cultural, and political life of their village.
The group traces its roots to the 1970s, when the children of Pengosekan — a village well known for its community of painters, weavers, and musicians — gathered after school to play music in the village balai (pavilion). Over the years, these independent-minded children formed a new kind of organization that has become a pride of the village.
Dances performed by the group include the classic “legong,” rare pieces in the “Kebyar” genre, and new choreography. The dancers bring to life vivid tales of gods and heroes of Balinese mythology and history. Beyond mere aesthetic entertainment, Balinese arts capture and amplify the shifting dimensions of human emotion, nature, the spirit world, and the cosmos.
Of significance is the set of instruments used by Çudamani — the “semarandana.” This type of ensemble is still quite rare in Bali, and Çudamani is on the forefront of work in this style. The tuning system used contains “extra” notes which allow the group to perform pieces from distinct gamelan ensembles on the same set of instruments.
Arts Midwest World Fest is a Minneapolis, Minn.-based program that connects small and mid-sized Midwestern communities to world cultures through week-long residencies with global performers. The program seeks to provide a multifaceted experience to community residents, particularly young people; integrate the artists and their music into a broader social, cultural, political and historical framework; encourage young people to explore issues and understand concerns of diverse cultures; and to create a lasting musical and cultural impact on participants.
The Martha MillerCente rfor Global Communication is located at 257 Columbia Ave., at the corner of Columbia Avenue and 10th Street.