TEACHING AIDS For the Ramayana Schools Presentation

Note: See also the Resources page on this site for information on the Ramayana coloring book and other helpful material.

Glossary of Terms

• Selamat (pronounced 'Slamet') Pagi: Good morning
• Selamat Siang: Good midday
• Wayang: Shadow play
• Gamelan: Musical ensemble
• Gotong Royong: synergy; people working together in a complementary way.

List of Characters

• Rama: Prince, hero of story (this puppet wears a crown)
• Sita: Rama's wife, heroine
• Lakshmana: Rama's Brother
• Hanuman (pronounced 'hanoman'): General of the Monkey Army
• Ravana (pronounced 'Rahwana'): The evil 10-headed king

Suggested Preparatory Activities

• Read story from 'The Ramayana' coloring book (available at no cost from the Center for World Music)
• Copy selected characters' pages and color them
• Watch Bali: 'Masterpiece of the Gods', a National Geographic documentary on Balinese arts and history

Suggested Post-Performance Activities

• Try telling your own stories through puppetry. Shadow puppets can easily be made by cutting and coloring heat shrinking plastic (aka 'shriky-dink')
• Pak Sumandhi will be available to teach Kecak (a dramatic form involving storytelling accompanied by vocal music and dance) workshops for schools that may be interested.

Presenting Artists

I Nyoman Sumandhi, M.A., master puppeteer, musician, and dancer, recently retired after eight years as head of the High School for Performing Arts, Denpasar, Bali. Sumandhi, who has performed widely in Europe, Japan and the US, is the Center for World Music's Year 2000 artist in residence.

Ni Putu Sutiati is a classical Balinese dancer and dance instructor in the International School, Sanur, Bali. Sumandhi's wife, she has performed with her husband around the world.

Robert E. Brown, Ph.D. is President of the Center for World Music, an ethnomusicologist, and former chair of the Music Department at San Diego State University. Dr. Brown has been visiting Bali for research since 1957. He spends part of each year living at Flower Mountain, a center for traditional Balinese performing arts, which he founded.

Alex Khalil, MFA, has been playing Balinese Music for the past 10 years. He is a composer and performer and founded Batu Gita, a music and dance troupe.

Kaori Okado, Alex's wife and co-founder of Batu Gita, is a modern dancer and choreographer, who also performs Balinese music and dance.

Modified: April 14, 2001