In this four-week series of in-person classes, Sekar Jaya teaching artist and longtime dance ensemble member, Monali Varaiya will focus on the foundations of Balinese dance. This class is geared towards students who might already have some knowledge of Balinese dance (including previous classes with GSJ or short-term study in Bali), as well as total beginners.
Students of all genders are welcomed; students must be at least 12 years old. All class participants are required to be fully vaccinated and to wear masks while inside the GSJ banjar community center. These classes may sometimes take place outside in the outdoor patio area of the banjar building, depending on the preference of the instructor.
Monali Varaiya dancing Kanyakasura at the Indonesian Bazaar in Spring 2023. Photograph taken by Philip Vy .
Monali Varaiya dances and plays music with Gamelan Sekar Jaya and has served as a local banjar resident, ensemble coordinator, and guest artist liaison. Passion for personal growth, healing, and aesthetics has led her to the interconnected cultural and spiritual traditions of Bali and India, including Vedanta and yoga, Balinese performing arts, wayang style painting, and feminine embodiment methods. Her Fulbright research focus in Bali from 2019-2021 was Yoga and Yadnya in Balinese Masked Dance and Vaidika Knowledge Systems and Art. She balances out her interest in arts with a profession is in biotech.
Four Sessions:
Sunday, October 15, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Sunday, October 22, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Sunday, October 29, 2:30pm - 3:30 pm
Sunday, November 5, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Sliding scale class fee for four sessions.
When choosing your sliding scale rate, please keep in mind that GSJ depends on the generosity of its community to support high caliber artists and programming. Thank you!
