Founded in 2002, the San Francisco International Arts Festival (SFIAF) is a vibrant celebration of arts and culture that unites a diverse global community of artists and audiences. With a focus on inclusivity and equity, SFIAF collaborates with diverse organizations to amplify voices often marginalized in the American narrative.

Gamelan Sekar Jaya is partnering with San Francisco International Arts Festival in a collaborative performance between our Batel/Gender ensemble and the local music group, Purnamasari. We will be performing in the afternoon at 2:00pm. Gamelan Sekar Jaya’s Gender Wayang and Batel ensemble, led by Guest Music Director Ni Nyoman Srayamurtikanti, performs new and traditional Balinese music and dance, accompanied by Guest Dance Director I Made Suteja presenting a rare performance of Wayang Wong dance drama.

Wayang Wong, Subali dan Sugriwa - Wayang Wong is a genre of Balinese dance theater inspired by Balinese shadow puppetry, “wayang” meaning “shadow” and “wong” meaning “person.” It is accompanied by a gender batel ensemble, comprised of four gender wayang metallophones, a drum, a gong, cymbals (cengceng), and other rhythm-keeping instruments.

In Bali, Wayang Wong stories usually come from the Ramayana, one of the two important epics of Hinduism, and tonight’s tale is no exception.

In the Wayang Wong performance, brothers Subali and Sugriwa, both heirs to a royal family, argue over inheriting a valuable jewel. Their father, to settle the dispute, throws the jewel into a magical pond in the forest. Each brother dives in, but instead of finding the jewel, they emerge transformed into monkeys. Shocked and angry, they engage in a heated battle until they realize the futility of their conflict. In this realization, they reconcile as they rediscover the importance of familial bonds, resonating with timeless themes of sibling rivalry, humility, forgiveness, and the strength of unity.

I Made Cat was inspired to select this story for performance because of the Indonesian election, which took place on February 14. He hopes that Indonesians will remember that even though we may disagree fiercely, we are united as one Indonesia in the end.

We are excited to see you at our showcase in this vibrant festival of cultural exchange, featuring dance, music, and performing arts!

Tickets are available now!

Purnamasari is a collaborative music group between Lisa Graciano and gamelan player Paul Miller, and includes musicians Megan Hewitt, Steve Lew, Keenan Pepper, Ion Nami Murata, Julia Martin, and Dillon Ingram. The group integrates Indonesian gamelan instruments and ideas into original yet accessible guitar-based songs and compositions. Their unique musical fusion uses a variety of gamelan instruments and tuning systems, mixed with western instruments tuned to a pitch allowing interaction with the gamelan.

Banner head photograph was taken by Mootens Productions during our International House Davis performance early this spring. Guest Dance Director I Made Suteja dancing Wayang Wong with Shoko Yamamuro.