Today was our first day of practice. We started with another, but brief ,orientation, and began practice a little later then we will tomorrow. PRACTICE WAS INTENSE. Look, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Balinese dance. If you haven’t, look it up. And then look at this video of our first practice. And then try it yourself. Sweating yet? YEAH. This is perhaps the most intense thing I’ve ever tried. Our teacher, Ibu Arini, is perhaps one of the best known women dancers in Bali. The artisan culture/practices here are highly coveted, and generally if you’re parents are dancers, so are your grandparents, cousins, siblings, and so forth. Ibu Arini also brings her two granddaughters to the practices with her, they are SO.CUTE. And talented!!! but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Practice today. Well. First we learned the woman’s style of dance. Ibu Arini taught us a dance combination that she created specifically to teach the basic movements of Balinese dance. I HAVE NEVER SWEAT SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. And i’m seriously thanking God right now for being in good shape, only because that’s the only/main thing i have going for me. I’m not good at learning choreography very quickly(anyone who’s tried to teach me, cough mike kotey cough haha knows i need to go over it 50 times minimum) but somehow I managed today. Women’s dance uses movement in the hips, emphasis is placed on curves in body alignment, and motions are generally fluid (as I gather thus far). The arms are always raised- elbows are above your heart and hands and feet are flexed. The AMAZING thing is the teachers- they are very interactive and will reposition/realign your body to get you in the right position. So if you’re not a physical/touch person get over it. They are amazingly patient and people here are unbelievable genuine.
After lunch, which is provided by the program (home cooked!!!!), we learned a bit of basic Male dance steps. Male dance focuses alot on the 2nd position ballet turnout, and you do not move your hips. Steps seem to be more prominent but there’s still a noticeable fluidity in motion.
Finally at the end of practice, three of the little girls gave us a small demonstration. They were amazing!!!! I have to take notes from them honestly. They are so sweet and shy but when they dance.. the maturity and skill is already evident. Truly unbelievable.
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Day 4:
This is the first trip that I’m not out immediately doing my own thing. I still haven’t really adjusted to having a roommate and I’m not sleeping well- I think that has a lot to do with the slow start on personal adventures. Bali is a really great place to just pick up and decide to go to- if you have the money for the ticket at least. Once you get here things are relatively cheap and tour guides are everywhere. So are taxis. It seems like alot of Dutch travelers do that; I hate to pull this card but I haven’t seen any black tourists yet, although one of the teachers explained to me that all types of immigrants are now coming to live in Bali. So today was our second practice day. Up bright and early at 7a for shower #1 and breakfast. Practice starts at 9, and lasts until around 1230-1 ish for lunch learning to basics to female dance. Then after lunch male basics until 4p. I take at least 3 showers a day here, because of the amount of sweating I do and to stave off mosiquitos. Dancing is beyond challenging. I’m using muscles I forgot about, and just about every move requires a turn-out and a flexed foot. The humidity is actually really helpful for my joints. Our teachers seem very happy with our progress. So happy in fact that they told us we’re to perform next week for a temple ceremony the group was invited to!!! The exciting part of that means dance hair and make up but man next week?!!!! One of the other dancers gasped out loud!!! Haha we were all shocked. The male dance is going better, and I can’t say enough how important our teachers are. To have world-renouned masters teach us is really beyond an honour. Makes you work twice as hard just to show respect. I’ve been eating really well and there are so many amazing things here I want to bring back for people. I’m really exhausted tonight and opted to go back to the hotel instead of watching the women’s gamelan practice with the rest of the group tonight. I’m way to tired and it’s nice to have a little space- although the group is full of nice and interesting people I just appreciate my rare alone time. I can’t believe I only have 19days left here! Crazy. I’m definitely taking notes on my next trip to Bali.
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