During his current time in residence at Yale University, Bapak Waleed was invited to attend an Indonesian theatrical performance. The event was named “Power and Performance: Theatrical Bodies and Persons in Contemporary Bali”, and it was sponsored by many groups at Yale, including the Department of Music, the Council for Southeast Asia Studies, the Department of Theater Studies, and the Asian-American Cultural Council among others. The Consulate General of Indonesia in New York also supported the performance. The show featured several top performers/master arts instructors from Indonesia. The show itself was wonderful, with the connections made amongst the audience as well as instructors afterwards even more precious and longlasting.
Everyone, performers, attendees, and instructors alike, were pleased to have Bapak Waleed present for the event. As people approached the stage to congratulate the artists, Bapak Waleed was among the first to offer his appreciation, gratitude, and well-wishes. Immediately, however, the performers began to express their appreciation to him instead, paying recognition to his establishment of Silat which they well know is the root of Indonesian dance and theatrical arts. Indriyo Sukmono, Senior Lector in the Council for Southeast Asia Studies, warmly welcomed Bapak Waleed, and invited him to future performances as well. Bapak Waleed spoke with Dr. Mark Hobart, Director of the Centre for Media and Film Studies, and the two shared their mutual admiration for the arts of Indonesia. Several members of the Gamelan orchestra, including some of the youngest members, approached Bapak Waleed to pay their respects; they remembered him from previous occasions wherein they performed together.
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Then Bapak Waleed and the Master Choreographer of the event, Dr. I Wayan Dibia, embraced one another and humbly exchanged greetings in the customary respectful manner. Dr. Dibia’s credentials are extensive, and he is now Chancellor and Professor of Dance and Choreography at ISI (Indonesian Institute of Arts). He was very pleased to see Bapak Waleed, and the two masters greeted each other warmly and humbly. The two spoke about the importance of building bridges between peoples all over the world, and the role that cultural exchange and the arts have to play in that effort. Dr. Dibia stated that he was a trying to convey a message of mutual understanding and peace to people wherever he performs. In the next breath he acknowledged Bapak Waleed’s work in spreading the pusaka and principles of Silat Tuo, and commended him on his dedication. These master artists from Indonesia already knew of Bapak Waleed back in their own country; many of them are from the same institutions which have repeatedly asked Bapak Waleed to come and visit. Bapak Waleed agreed with Dr. Dibia and further spoke on the importance of connecting the hearts and spreading the beauty of cultural understanding. Their conversation concluded with smiles all around and Dr. Dibia inviting Bapak Waleed to collaborate with him on future projects.
All in all, everyone was grateful for a wonderful performance and good company.
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