Skip to Main Content
Instagram
X
Facebook
Submit Search
Search
The Oberlin Review
NEWS
Campus News
Community News
Features
Off the Cuff
Security Report
ARTS
Music
Visual Art
Theater & Film
Dance
Literature & Poetry
Features
On the Record
Arts Comic
Crossword
Food
OPINIONS
Editorials
Commentary
Columns
Letters to the Editors
Student Senate
Editorial Cartoon
SPORTS
Club & Intramural Sports
In the Locker Room
Sports Column
Sports Editorials & Features
Varsity Fall
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Football
Soccer
Volleyball
Varsity Spring
Baseball
Lacrosse
Softball
Tennis
Track and Field
Varsity Winter
Basketball
Swimming and Diving
Track and Field
CONSERVATORY
Conservatory Editorials
In the Practice Room
THE BULLETIN
SPECIAL ISSUES
Blackness Is The Beauty It Be
Earth Day 50
The Oberlin Review 150th Anniversary
APRIL FOOLS
PRINT EDITION
ABOUT
CONTACT US
Staff
Advertise
Archives
Comment Policy
More
Open Navigation Menu
The Oberlin Review
NEWS
ARTS
OPINIONS
SPORTS
THE BULLETIN
CONSERVATORY
PODCAST
ABOUT
CONTACT US
SPECIAL ISSUE
The Oberlin Review 150th Anniversary
More
The Oberlin Review
Open Search Bar
Search this site
Submit Search
Open Navigation Menu
The Oberlin Review
NEWS
ARTS
OPINIONS
SPORTS
THE BULLETIN
CONSERVATORY
PODCAST
ABOUT
CONTACT US
SPECIAL ISSUE
The Oberlin Review 150th Anniversary
More
The Oberlin Review
Open Search Bar
Search this site
Submit Search
Second City’s “Comedian Rhapsody” Performs Humorous Sketches, Invites Crowd Participation
Sydney Collinger
, Senior Staff Writer, Layout Editor
March 1, 2024
Love in the Times of Oberlin
Eloise Rich
, Arts & Culture Editor
February 10, 2023
Review: Rhiannon Giddens and Co. Perform at Finney
Walter Thomas-Patterson
, Conservatory Editor
October 7, 2022
Madison Cunningham at Folk Fest Cathartic, Energetic
Kenji Anderson
May 13, 2022
Return of Colors of Rhythm Revitalizes Cherished Tradition
Sierra Colbert
, Senior Staff Writer
April 29, 2022
Steelpan Virtuoso Leon Foster Thomas
Lilyanna D'Amato
, Arts & Culture Editor
April 22, 2022
Revitalized Campus In Critical Moment for College Traditions
Kushagra Kar
,
Anisa Curry Vietze
,
Gigi Ewing
, and
Arman Luczkow
October 29, 2021
A Comprehensive Oberlin Bucket List
Ashley Xu
, This Week Editor
October 8, 2021
Why Tear Down Our Heroes? We Need Them Now
Peter Takács
, Professor of Piano
March 6, 2020
OHOP, OSLAM Center Black, POC Voices on Campus
Imani Badillo
, Senior Staff Writer
November 22, 2019
Gamelan and Bali Dance Group Perform at Finney Chapel
Rachel Fang
October 4, 2019
Spring Quartet Wows in Highly Anticipated Celebratory Performance
Carson Dowhan
, Senior Staff Writer
April 19, 2019
Pages:
1
2
3
4
»
Search
Submit Search
Menu
Close Menu
Activate Search
Scroll to Top
Home
Search
NEWS
ARTS
OPINIONS
SPORTS
THE BULLETIN
CONSERVATORY
PODCAST
ABOUT
CONTACT US
SPECIAL ISSUE
The Oberlin Review 150th Anniversary
Close
Close Modal Window
Close
![One of the most respected Balinese performing companies, Çudamani, came to Oberlin to perform in Finney Chapel last Tuesday. The 18-member company is internationally recognized, and their Oberlin performance was part of their world tour. The group name Çudamani means “to do something with your whole heart without expecting something in return,” according to the group’s website. Watching their performance, it’s easy to see this goal come to life through their passion.
The performance integrated costumes, dancing, vocal performances, and Gamelan, which is music played using traditional Indonesian instruments. Each of their performances had a specific theme. “Teruna Gandrung” showcases a tradition of challenging gender norms, featuring women in energetic, fearless, and powerful roles. Another piece called “Ramayana Wayang Wong” featured two people dressed in red and yellow, wearing masks. The story followed twin brothers who jumped into a pool of water while fighting over a chalice. After they fell into the water, they turned into monkeys.
There were also sections in which dancers improvised their movements and signaled to the percussionists to change the tempo and melody. In order to communicate while on stage, performers made eye contact with each other and smiled.
“We are told to put ourselves into the story but not just technical movements, so we don’t practice with mirrors, because my teacher said that it is better to feel your partner than watch them in the mirror,” said Dewa Ayu Eka Putri, one of the dancers and the group’s secretary.
In addition to performing, Çudamani holds workshops wherever they tour including at Oberlin this past week.
“Çudamani told not only traditional dramas but also shared stories about their community and philosophy of collective care,” College fourth-year Kara Nepomuceno, a Dance major studying Southeast Asian dance, wrote in an email to the Review. “In [the] workshop held on Wednesday morning, Associate Director Emiko Saraswati Susilo described how the group collectively owns the instruments at their home base of Banjar Pengosekan.”
The group also has permanent summer programs in Bali that teach people about their dances and instruments in order to preserve their traditions and spread knowledge of their culture.](https://oberlinreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GamelanDance_OfficeofComms_WEB-900x577.jpg)
