Page 6 | Teaching Javanese dance in schools

Music appeciation and follow-up

Contents

An introduction (1)

Teaching dance in Indonesia (2)

A workshop model (3)

Mask and character work (4)

Costume (5)

Music appreciation and follow-up (6)

Seleh Notes Volume 9 Number 2 March 2002

© Gill Roberts

Photographs:
Felicity Drown
Gill Roberts

Music appreciation

Javanese dance steps are mirrored by the patterns played on the drum, and I always incorporate some element of relating dance to sounds in my sessions.

If I’m doing a one-off workshop I may just get children listening out for the big gong as a punctuating instrument, thinking in terms of eight-beat cycles and experimenting with different rhythmic patterns (e.g. on/off beat, double time, half time, etc).

When I am able to work over a period of time with a group, then I aim to get them thinking about how different drum sounds can match particular dance steps.

For example, as part of a major Asian Music Circuit project in East Sussex schools, we were able to work with a Number of basic patterns as part of a warrior dance.

I would like to develop this aspect of the work further, and use a dance drummer as an integral part of workshops where appropriate.

Following ups

Though much of the work I do, in the way that I do it, depends on having a knowledge of Javanese dance, it is also possible for non-specialist teachers to follow up and develop these ideas on their own.

When I work with children, I aim to stimulate their general interest in dance, music and theatre and enable them to explore this creatively.

But most of all, I am interested in communicating and passing on some of the pleasure and inspiration that I’ve had from Javanese dance.

If I can do that, I also hope, in some small measure, to contribute to building new audiences for the Indonesian performing arts in this country.

Gill Roberts teaches Javanese dance in schools. See dance tutors for details.

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