With support from the California Arts Council, Gamelan Sekar Jaya will collaborate with 2 Bay Area schools (International Community School & Albany High) to develop hands-on arts learning experiences based on traditional Balinese performing arts. Guided by the concepts of harmony & cooperation embedded in Balinese arts, master teaching artists will work with classroom teachers to engage a diverse cross-section of students in music, dance & puppetry over the course of extended school residencies.
Direct artistic interaction is key to GSJ’s unique programming. Many of Bali’s most renowned performing artists have joined GSJ for extended residencies over the past 40 years. The artist-in-residence program is the only US program outside of a university or consulate to regularly host Balinese artists for extended residencies, making it an important resource for the public. Artists-in-residence share their artistic skills, experience, and creativity with these shared goals: direct artistic interaction with performers, students, and audiences; dissemination of major works from the living tradition of Balinese arts; enriching historical, cultural, and artistic understanding in a setting emphasizing artistic excellence and mutual respect. GSJ has presented hundreds of concerts locally and internationally, and each year GSJ introduces thousands of children, youth and adults to Balinese arts and culture through classes, school programs, and other outreach activities.