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Çudamani Summer Institute (CSI)

July 14- July 28, 2024

Cudamani is announcing dates for our 2024 summer institute. At this time after COVID, Balinese life has returned to normal. Temple ceremonies are in full swing, students are back to in person learning and as of January 2022 our own Cudamani school is stronger than ever. This may the year you can come to Bali and study with master teachers and live in our village of Pengosekan. We are prepared to offer supporting documents upon request for anyone applying for scholarships and fundings.

Thank you, Dewa Putu Berata and Dewa Ayu Larassanti

WHO ARE WE?  Providing instruction to the children and youth of Pengosekan has been a primary goal of Sanggar Cudamani.   Rooted in the conviction that gamelan and dance are a powerful means of developing spiritual discipline,  Dewa Putu Berata and a team of sixteen teachers understand the critical social role the arts can play for youth in a rapidly modernizing world. In 2024 we celebrate 27 years of teaching.  Our education program distinguishes us from other gamelan groups.  The senior members of the professional group began their training as children with Cudamani .  For the past seventeen years Çudamani Summer Institute has extended their educational reach by bringing hundreds of international students to their village Sanggar.

Over the years Dewa Putu Berata has refined his approach to teaching a diverse student body.  Key to the success of the program is the team of Cudamani master teachers and teaching assistants.  Their pedagogy is unique in Bali and supports the beginning student as well as those who have studied Balinese Gamelan and Dance for many years.  This diverse faculty keep the artistic level of every class at a very high level, provide individual instruction, encouragement, and models of excellence. Past CSI participants have included: University music and dance professors as well as students; professional artists eager to extend their creative and performative reach; educators who want to expand their classroom teaching, and young people who have fallen under the spell of Balinese performing arts.

For more than twenty-seven years Çudamani has enhanced village life in Pengosekan by teaching hundreds of Balinese children, youth, and adults.   CSI is your opportunity to be a part of the Çudamani and Pengosekan community.  Villagers young and old look forward to seeing CSI students-in-residence because of their earnest desire to study Balinese arts and culture.

2024 ACTIVITIES-July 14-28.  Check in July 13th; check out July 29, 2024.

After cancelling our 2020 and 2021 program, an 18 month travel ban to Bali, we resumed out program in the summer of 2022.  With the worst fears of COVID behind us,  our students took full advantage of the early opening of Bali to the outside world.  Everyone was eager to get together over gamelan and dance.  With safety precautions such as vaccines and normal travel conditions, Cudamani is prepared to welcome student  for their 2024 program.

2024 ACTIVITIES-   in addition to 50 + hours of instruction in gamelan and dance, many special events will be planned.    Accommodations at a local  Guest House allow you to walk to classes without the congestion of Ubud traffic. We begin the program instruction on July 14th  with the CUDAMANI FESTIVAL @ Museum Puri Lukisan.    Virtually all our members from the youngest to the senior group will perform.  A wide and diverse repertoire provide an orientation to the unique range of Cudamani’s artistic reach.     We plan organized tours to key points of interest such as rice fields, lake and Mt.  Batur, Tampaksiring Temple, etc..  Instruction comes into focus as you share what you have learned by performing at a temple ceremoney in Pengosekan.  Under the guidance of Cudamani, your participation in all our activities will be appropriate and respectful, indeed, your presence is appreciated by the local community. The final day on July 28rd brings all our efforts to a close with as we share all the works learned with each other,  gather in a final closing circle, and end the day with farewell party.   Villagers of Pengosekan appreciate your earnest interest and effort as you learn about their traditions.  By the end of the two weeks, you will feel at home in Pengosekan.

We mourn the loss of our great master and founding teacher Pak Nyoman Cerita

The core of the teaching program includes daily gamelan and dance* study.  A hallmark of the Cudamani Summer Institute are the many assistant teachers who are able to offer each student personal support; as a result, even players/dancers new to Balinese performance are able to accomplish an enormous amount in the limited time of the program.  Our senior teachers carefully guide students to a level of complexity that allows each person  to get the attention they need to develop artistically.

Over the years we have taken special pleasure when colleges and Universities bring small groups of students already versed in Balinese performing arts to join the CSI. Special group rates can be arranged for groups of four or more.  The nature of the program easily incorporates musicians and dancers of all levels, including advanced students who wish to refine their skills at the more complicated instruments such as the drum and reyong or dancers wishing to learn more advanced repertoire.

The program is further enhanced by lecture demonstrations by members of Cudamani; invited lectures by guest speakers; and  field trips to cultural sites in our area.  The program concludes with a final performance with CSI students sharing a program with members of Cudamani. After seventeen years of experience Dewa Berata creates a balanced, dynamic and inspiring educational experience that has students returning year after year.

*Note- the dance program will require a minimum enrollment of six students.

It is worth repeating that students are surrounded by a community of artists- ranging from master teachers of international renown, to the senior members, to the young teenage members of Cudamani.    Cudamani Summer Institute is a non-commercial  program as such students feel they are invited into the Cudamani family of artists as well as their village of Pengosekan. International and Indonesian students realize immediately that they are studying at the directors own home.  With children running around, women making offerings within sight, or the home cooked meals at lunch, you understand what life is like in a Balinese family. This intimate context provides rewarding cultural and personal insights that go beyond the technique of music and dance.

Adding to the reward of study is the proximity of the home village of Pengosekan to the vibrant tourist center of Ubud.  Hotel accommodation are walking distance to Sanggar Cudamani.  You are in  the midst of a wide range options for shopping, evening meals, and tourist performances.  You will soon realize that Cudamani is near this tourist center but is not of the tourist scene.  However, for those looking forward to the relaxation, shopping, even massages, you will find all available to enjoy after class hours.    Plentiful and wide ranging in price, this is a great option for those on a budget.

GAMELAN PROGRAM– Daily sessions in Cudamani’s open air studio teach you the techniques of Balinese gamelan, expand your repertoire and improve your musicality. Under the Direction of Dewa Putu Berata, senior Cudamani players assist in each session.  This ensures individual attention as well as the robust sound Cudamani is famous for.  The range of pieces studied advances the musicianship and musical understanding of Balinese music.  Group sessions focus  on the gorgeous Semarandana instruments.  Breakout sessions offer options to study Balinese drum, selonding, gender wayang, flute, etc..  These small-group sessions allow advanced musicians to refine skills, try new instruments, and learn repertoire, while beginning musicians have time to learn the fundamentals of gamelan in an environment that is challenging yet supportive and incredibly fun.

DANCE PROGRAM- * If you have always wanted to try Balinese dance, but have told yourself, “I’m not a dancer” then send us an email. We have a great program for beginners, and we welcome you.  On the other hand, if you have some experience with Balinese dance, but need to deepen your understanding and repertoire, then this is an incredible learning environment for you as well. You will be working with the masters of the tradition, honing your dance skills, and expanding your repertoire.  The curriculum includes both male and female technique.  In addition to dancing alongside  great teachers you will also be inspired by the company of Cudamani’s talented young performers. No matter where you are in your study of Balinese dance, the program will challenge and inspire you!

* Minimum enrollment six dance students for the 2024 program- if we have too few, we can incorporate dance sessions as part of  the gamelan program.

SELECTION CRITERIA – We invite individuals who wish to study and live in another culture. Participants must be 18 years or older.  With special permission we  can also include children 12 and above  who wish to learn alongside their parent.  Beginners as well as experienced gamelan musicians and dancers are encouraged to apply.  We have had great success with faculty who wish to deepen their understanding of Bali, bring back material for their research and teaching. In addition undergraduate and graduate students have found the program an ideal way to travel to Bali and have a concentrated first hand experience of the performing arts of Bali.  We can provide letters of acceptance for visa and/or grant applications.

Important Dates

  • SCHEDULE- (subject to change)
  • July 13           Check in Guest House.  Early evening reception as part of Cudamani Festival Tech Rehearsal
  • July 14            Late Morning-
        • Program orientation.  Walk through Pengosekan
        • Afternoon.  rest
  • July 14             Cudamani Festival Evening 1
  • July 15            Late morning tour of rice fields, temples, and cultural sites
  • July 15            Cudamani Festival Evening 2
  • July 16           Instruction begins.
  • July 21           Day trip Batur, Tampaksiring, and other sacred sites.
  • July 22           REST
  • July  28           Informal performances of all material, final circle, and party with Cudamani members
  • July 29            Check out

Tuition Fees

We will accept applications after these deadlines if space allows.

May 1, 2024            Deadline Application + fee  $25

May 15, 2024           Early tuition payment secures a private room.  (Limited availability)  

June 15, 2024          Deadline Payment in full – 

Tuition with housing :

  • double occupancy: $2000  (some rooms share king beds)
  • private room: $2,400.  King bed.
  • For 2024 we will offer a special student  rate (18-22) double occupancy: $1500.
  • youth (11-20 yrs ) participating with parent(s) in same private room $1,100 (this is a rollaway bed).

Tuition without housing:  $1500.

Please know that some years rooms we need to secure additional rooms from our primary lodging.  Early payment on May 15th insures private rooms.  Rooms will be allocated  on a first-come-first serve basis.

Payment on application form.

Please know that 100% of all fees go directly to Cudamani members/teachers/staff. Some years, tuition earned income covers teachers salaries for one year. Thank you for your support.

Alert! Your Passport must be valid for six months after your departure date.

As of March 1, 2023 the Indonesian Government does not require a PCR test upon arrival or a record of full vaccination.

Participants are responsible for checking on latest COVID requirements when  making own travel and visa arrangements to Indonesia.   A free 30 day  tourist visa is available upon arrival for many countries.  If you plan to stay longer- you can apply for a 60 day visa.  please see web site: https://indonesia.visahq.com/  Please also consider travel health insurance.

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“The performance in the temple was the most important for me. It was brilliant to have been able to perform in a meaningful celebration and to apply whatever had been taught for that purpose.”

Elaine Pedly
Dancer/Choreographer, Class of 2007

“I know that many Americans come to Bali to take lessons individually, but getting to do this through a group situation, in which we were able to form something of an ensemble by the end, and in which I was able to form a connection with a group of people who feel just as seriously passionate about the music and culture as I do, seems to be really special. I got to spend a lot of time with a lot of fabulous musicians, listening to and playing and practicing gamelan several hours a day. I felt inspired every day, and I feel like I’m definitely hearing gamelan music differently now than before the program.

I now have a much better understanding of the relationship between the music and dance, and a greater sense about what it means to have a community ensemble of musicians who actually work together, play together, collaborate, and live that spirit through their music-making.”

Lynda Paul
Musician, Class of 2007

“The strength of the Institute is the opportunity to be completely immersed in Balinese culture through learning music and dance, yet with enough Western teaching methods to facilitate our learning.”

Donna Eshelman
Dancer/Choreographer, Class of 2008

“I came away with a deep respect for the integration of the arts into daily and ceremonial life in Bali, and sadness at their estrangement in western culture. The access to master teachers — I was honored and humbled over and over again by the talent, skill and artistry of our teachers, all of which they so lovingly shared with us.”

Rosemary Candelario
Dancer/Choreographer, Class of 2008

“Çudamani Summer Institute has opened my eyes to Balinese culture in ways I could not have experienced in any other program. The musicians, dancers, and staff are welcoming and kind and teach respect and compassion — cultural aspects I will carry with me back to my home and school in the United States. Learning the music and developing new friendships goes hand-in-hand in gamelan music. CSI has further enhanced my appreciation for this island’s rich art and culture. I’ll carry this experience with me always and appreciate it for the rest of my life.”

Claire Fassnacht
Musician, Class of 2012

“It was a phenomenal experience with a mix of students ranging from ethnomusicologists and semi-professional players to graduate and undergraduate students with some experience in gamelan or at least percussion performance… All in all it was superbly arranged and delivered, and many of the students were returnees or, like me, hope to return… read more “

Greg Youtz
Musician, Class of 2012

“I’ve attended many dance festivals and intensives in San Francisco, New York City, Seattle, and elsewhere. The Cudamani Summer Institute stands out as an glorious immersive practice within the extraordinary arts and culture of Bali, a land where the arts are as earnestly sophisticated as they are genuinely sacred. Being invited warmly into the the Cudamani community, practicing in studios in family homes, sharing meals, attending temple ceremonies, and participating in both public and private performances provided for an inspiring artistic exchange connecting along our universal human dimensions amongst cultures from various corners of the planet.”

Paul Laurey
Artist and Filmmaker, Class 2015
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