Press Releases 2007

CONTACT:  Jana Marcus, Marketing & Communications
(831) 479-5744
jamarcus [at] cabrillo.edu

August 23, 2007

An Evening of World Theatre and Music: Masks of Bali
8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22 at Cabrillo College Theater

APTOS, CA—The Cabrillo College Theatre Arts Department is proud to present An Evening of World Theatre and Music: Masks of Bali, on Saturday September 22, at the Cabrillo Theatre.  The unique event will highlight two longtime local favorites, I Made Suryasa and Judy Slattum, performing and discussing the art of the ancient Balinese dance-drama Topeng, accompanied by the Gamelon Anak Swarasanti Orchestra.

I Made Suryasa is a master performer of Topeng Pajegan, the Balinese masked dance-drama, which combines history, religion, and local satire with music, dance, poetry and mime to celebrate the Balinese heroes of the past and their relevance to the modern world. Topeng Pajegan, a form of Topeng, is executed by a single, consecrated performer usually at a religious occasion where the performer functions in a role similar to a priest. Topeng Pajegan establishes the diverse and powerful range of the actor/dancer, allowing him to portray a gambit of characters, from an elegant prince to boisterous clowns, all of which Suryasa masterfully brings to life with both humor and sensitivity.

Born in Denpasar, the eldest son of a Hindu priest, Suryasa studied and performed Baris dance as a child, and studied Topeng with Ketut Kantor, Ketut Tutur, and Cokorda Raka Tisnu.  Suryasa performs frequently at colleges, universities, and museums including San Francisco's Asian Arts and De Young museums. Suryasa is also known for his carvings of the traditional masks.

Joining Suryasa is his partner, and former Cabrillo College instructor, Judy Slattum, who provides a wealth of knowledge in an elegant presentation on the Balinese masked drama as a counterpoint throughout the evening to Suryasa’s dynamic characters.

They will be accompanied by the Gamelan Anak Swarasanti Orchestra, which has been enthralling audiences in the Bay Area and beyond since 1997, with the magical sound of Balinese gamelan music. Gamelan, a percussion music played on gongs and tuned bronze-keyed instruments, is a mesmerizing blend of hypnotic melodies and fast interlocked rhythms unlike anything heard in Western music. Originating on the island of Bali in Indonesia, the music of the gamelan is traditionally used to accompany ritual ceremonies and temple festivals, as well as secular events. Gamelan Anak Swarasanti brings this exotic music to Western audiences with traditional and contemporary pieces, some of which were written specifically for this orchestra. Working with Balinese master musicians and dancers on a regular basis, Gamelan Anak Swarasanti is constantly bringing new material to its ever-growing repertoire.

Slattum joined the Cabrillo theatre arts faculty in 1972, after first teaching at the University of Maryland. During her 11 years, she designed costumes for numerous productions, pioneered the improvisation program, and directed productions including The Comedy of Errors, The Bacchae, The Good Woman of Setzuan, and Elizabeth I. She began leading study tours through Cabrillo in 1975 to the Greek islands, adding Bali to her program after researching Balinese masks on a sabbatical in 1978. She resigned from Cabrillo in 1984. Chronicle Books published her book Masks of Bal: Spirits of an Ancient Drama, the definitive work on the topic, in 1992.

Judy and Suryasa were married in Bali in 1986 and live half the year there.  They own and operate the Capitola-based company Danu Enterprises, which leads culture tours throughout Asia and Greece.

What: An Evening of World Theatre and Music: Masks of Bali with I Made Suryasa and the Anak Swarasanti Gamelon Orchestra

When: Saturday, September 22, 2007 – 8 pm

Where: Cabrillo College Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA

Tickets: 479-6331 or www.ticketguys.com

$15 General, $12 Students/Seniors, $10 with student activity card

Cabrillo Collegeis a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. It is ranked #1 in transfers to UC Santa Cruz. Founded in 1959, the college offers over 100 academic and career technology programs that serve multiple educational goals such as A.A. and A.S. degrees, certificates of proficiency, skills certificates, transfer to 4-year institutions or for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. Our mission is to enhance the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of our diverse community by assisting all students in their quest for lifelong learning and success in an ever-changing world.

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