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This
afternoon at the Neighborhood Music School, the Audubon Arts Summer Program
culminated with a day of student performances and visiting artists. “Leonardo” Bapak Waleed, Director of the International Silat Federation of
America,
highlighted the day by presenting Demonstrations and Arrangements of Indonesian
Music and Traditional Dances, including some basics of the Candle Dance, Plate
Dance, and Kembangan “Flower Dance.” Bapak Waleed led the program in order to introduce the students to the
arts, culture, and dances of Indonesia, along with some historical overview of
the largest archipelago in the world. |
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Bapak
Waleed brought the far-off land of Indonesia to Audubon Street in New Haven, and
filled the room with music of the Indonesian Gamelan Orchestra as the students
filled the auditorium. The
afternoon began with a reading of some famous children’s folk tales from
Indonesia, including the story of the Sumatran water buffalo, or “kabau,” that
lends its name to the Minangkabau people of Padang, West Sumatra. The program then continued with a video
presentation of clips from several of Bapak Waleed’s previous performances and
workshops for children of all ages, including a variety of audiences. |
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Bapak
Waleed culminated the afternoon by performing live for the audience,
demonstrating the grace and beauty of the “Seni” arts and dance. The
children were awed and amazed at the speed and fluidity of Bapak’s
movements. They had many
questions, and wanted to know how long he had been training and teaching in the
arts, as well as how long it had taken him to learn to move so skillfully. Others wanted to know more details
about the dance and its intricate movements. Some of the teachers present asked about the connections
between the dance and theater and the other arts, and Bapak Waleed shared some
of the history of Seni Silat
Randai, and the theater and dance of the region. |
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For
the final portion of the afternoon, Bapak Waleed invited everyone in the
audience to stand up, take off their shoes, and participate in the basic
stepping and hand patterns of Silat. The students learned that the stepping movements would strengthen their
legs and back. Bapak also
demonstrated and practiced with them some basic hand movements that would lead
to better coordination and balance when combined properly with the basic
footwork for the dance. Bapak
Waleed commended the students on their questions and participation, and urged
them to continue to excel in their studies, both artistically and academically,
and lead their generation forward. |
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The
Neighborhood Music School’s “Audubon Arts” included programs for children and
students between the ages of 5 and 16, and over 100 students, faculty, and
staff attended Bapak Waleed’s session on the Cultures and Dances of
Indonesia. The children were very
grateful to Bapak, and many came up afterward to greet him, to share their
wonder and enthusiasm with what he had shown them, and to thank him again. |
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Barbara
Viviani, Managing Director of the Audubon Arts Program, warmly thanked Bapak
Waleed, and presented him with a rose at the end of the program. Lawrence Zukof, Executive Director of
the Neighborhood Music School, also came out to greet and thank Bapak Waleed
for his participation and support.
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Bapak Waleed at the Neighborhood Music School
NMS Event Photo Flip-Book -- [ 16 photos ] |
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NMS Event Sampler Video Clip [.mov] |
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