February 15, 2006 - Yale University - New Haven, CT
On Monday night, February 13, the series of classes on the Traditional Dances of Sumatra, Indonesia, continued at the Yale University International Center, taught by Bapak Leonardo J. Stoute of the International Silat Federation. Several newcomers joined participants returning from the first session, all eager to begin and continue learning these ancient dance movements and the meditation in movement. Bapak Waleed focused on the basic steps, introducing new stepping patterns in addition to refreshing the ones taught in the previous week.
Bapak Waleed continued to emphasize the benefits of balance and coordination in movement, demonstrating how proper balance and coordination are achieved through consistency and precision. Coordination and balance result from conscious awareness and control: you do not simply fall into position; you place yourself precisely into position with your steps and every movement. Even participants who had already been training with Bapak Waleed for several months could appreciate the strengthening and conditioning that can be gained by moving through the Jurus, slowly and without power, while stepping and maintaining the proper positions and angles.
Bapak Waleed also highlighted some of the hidden movements that are found in the dance, with respect to basic self-defense and practical applications. The class was amazed by how quickly and effectively the hidden power emerged from Bapak Waleed’s graceful and fluid movements.
The atmosphere of the class was both vibrant and relaxed at the same time, inside and outside of the International Center. Even the people walking past often stopped and peaked through the windows, seeing that something special was happening inside. As several watched through the windows, some even stepped inside to join in the exotic movements & spiritual dance, and thereby gain a further understanding of the “Dance of the Spiritual Warrior.”
At the end of the evening, Bapak Leonardo Stoute reassured the class that even though he would be traveling, he would return the following week to continue teaching the six week “Silat Tuo: Dance, Healing & Martial Arts Intensive” (Monday Seminar series). Several participants inquired about practicing the movements while he was away, and all were invited to the regular classes on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings held weekly on campus.
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February 27, 2006 - Yale University - New Haven, CT
Tonight at the Yale International Center, Bapak Waleed continued to teach the seminar series on the “Traditional Dances of Sumatra, Indonesia.” The class provided quite a special opportunity for those present, as Bapak Waleed shared, demonstrated, and taught some of the movements of the famous “Candle and Plate Dance” unique to Southeast Asia.
Class began with stretches and warm-ups on the ground, in order to loosen and warm up the joints, a preparation that is especially necessary in the current cold weather snap. For the remainder of the class the focus was on learning and gaining the proper feeling for the basic hand movements by practicing them in isolation, sitting on the ground. Bapak Waleed gave the class a special treat when he began to demonstrate and perform the Candle Dance. He then focused his attention on teaching the class some of those movements, first with empty hands, and then while holding and carrying small plates in each hand. Everyone was amazed at the skill that was needed to perform the movements properly, since Bapak Waleed had made them look so easy! It was quite evident that the intricate movements, combined with the requirement to keep the plates from falling, help one to develop flexibility, strength, and a keen sense of balance.
Class ended with everyone trying their hands (and feet!) at stepping in a coordinated fashion while still maintaining the movements of the Candle Dance. Bapak Waleed himself joined in the free-flowing dance, and his fluidity and gracefulness were marvelous to behold. As always, Bapak Waleed came to class to in order to offer his light to those present, so that everyone felt refreshed and relaxed as they left for the night.
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March 19, 2006 - Yale University - New Haven, CT
On March 13, 2006, participants gathered at the Yale University International Center for the final class in the six-week seminar series on Traditional Indonesian Dance, led by Bapak Waleed of the International Silat Federation.
During the final session, Bapak Waleed continued to emphasize balance and coordination in movement. He spent much of the session working one-on-one with the individual participants in order to improve their grasp of the movements. Bapak Waleed also emphasized fluidity in motion, and encouraged the students to move with the sound of the Gamelan music playing in the background. In addition, by slowing down their movements, participants were able to feel the exact placements of the positions, and better able to coordinate the motion of their hands and feet. In this manner they would be able to gain a control over the movements that would enable them to maintain their balance and coordination even while eventually increasing their speed. Through these methods, Bapak Waleed’s expert coaching enabled all the participants who came on a consistent basis to progress remarkably even in a short time.
Each of the participants, students, faculty, staff, and alumni, thanked Bapak Waleed very much, having greatly enjoyed their introduction to the Traditional Dances of Indonesia. So much interest was generated from the Series that many participants have joined the regular ongoing training sessions held at Yale University. [Interested in classes? EMAIL]
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