DID you know that Bendigo has its very own traditional Indonesian performance ensemble?<\/p>\n
Known as the Mugi Rahayu Gamelan Ensemble and established and coordinated by husband and wife team Aaron Hall and Nita Rahayu, the group will be performing for the public as part of Cultural Diversity Week on Monday, 21 March at the Bendigo Library.<\/p>\n
Hall said the idea for the group came about after he completed an Indonesian Government scholarship to study gamelan music full time for 18 months at the Yogyakarta Arts Institute in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
\u201cNita studied Indonesian dance since she was young and so it was a perfect match,\u201d he said. \u201cSince 2006 we have had weekly practices at our home in the bush and perform at cultural festivals in the region and occasionally in Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bendigo showcase will feature a selection of authentic Indonesian gamelan music in the central Javanese style that will be accompanied by Rahayu\u2019s dancers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will also be performing the traditional Indonesian story of the legend of Prambanan temple in Java, as a role play and drama with live music,\u201d Hall said.<\/p>\n
Hall is urging locals to come along and show their support, as participating in cultural activities are \u201cone of the things that makes living in Bendigo so great.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEnjoying and sharing the diversity of other cultures and other peoples in an open, welcoming way enriches everyone’s lives and is one of the ways that we can contribute to harmony in our society,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Catch the Mugi Rahayu Gamelan Ensemble on Monday, 21 March between 4pm and 5pm at the Bendigo Library.<\/p>\n