Balinese Characters

The Kechak dance is a retelling of the Ramayana myth with a huge chorus of young men  sitting around the perimeter of the dancers. The young men represent the forest full of monkeys that watch as the story unfolds. They provide the only music throughout the performance by making an amazing assortment of percussion noises with their voices, coming together in a hypnotizing litany.

Rangda the witch and the Barong the lion are other- worldly characters in the Ramayana myth, a story which is integral to Balinese culture. The battle between Rangda and the Barong is a neverending saga that is intrinsic to life for people in Bali. It represents not simply the struggle between good and evil, but reaches deeper into the very struggle to live, not just as a single human being, but for as a community as well. While the Barong is often associated with being a ‘protector’, and the Rangda as representative of death, it is important to realize that both are intrinsically tied to the never ending cycle of life. It might even be said that their existence is complimentary rather than oppositional.

HUNTING THE SUN

Our story uses these characters in slightly different way to the traditional.  David McVicar developed the story  following a study visit to Indonesia.  Whilst it is an original story, it does attempt to be faithful to Indonesian customs and traditions.

The music is a mix of three songs by KITARO  from the DREAM cd.

MAGICAL WAVE:     AGREEMENT:    DREAM OF CHANT

The main song, AGREEMENT, can be heard by copying this link into real player.

Rock 'n' roll graduates

High hopes for young finalists

By ANDY WILLIAMS

Take 81 enthusiastic teenagers, mix with dozens of parents and a team of teachers, blend for hundreds of hours and what you get is a Rock 'n' Roll' Eistedfodd recipe for success.
That's the hope at Seaview High School, one of this year's 10 finalists in the Rock V Roll Eisteddfod on September 9.
For the Festival Theatre audiences and TV viewers, the annual student productions are remarkably professional performances resulting in top entertainment.
For the schools involved, it is the culmination of months of demanding work, countless lost lunch hours and after-school rehearsals. Not to mention stacks of fun.
Seaview High is a regular entrant, and many of its students once bitten by the performing arts bug take part year after year.
The school's performing arts co-ordinator and dance teacher, Mr Bob Weatherly, has been involved in the Rock n Roll Eisteddfod since its inception in 1986. He is convinced the benefits to the students and the school as a whole are enormous.
This year's production, Hunting The Sun, had its genesis in a grant awarded to one of Seaview's teachers, David McVicar,  to study in Asia late last year.
The story - a traditional battle between good and evil - was developed around Indonesian myths and legends, and involved hours of research by students.
The music is by the Japanese composer, Kitaro, and the lyrics by Jon Anderson, who has worked extensively with Vangelis (Chariots of Fire).
Giant four-metre-high good and evil puppets and a vast sun dome which opens in segments dominate the set.
Auditions were held in the middle of first term and rehearsals started in earnest at the end of the term, as did backstage preparations.
In second term there were rehearsals for different groups of performers every lunch hour, on Monday afternoons and several Sunday mornings.
A team of 30 mothers worked on costumes while students worked on sets and masks." It becomes a real team effort," Mr Weatherly said.
"It's a long procedure for seven minutes on stage, but the important thing is that so much learning goes into it - Asian history, craft skills, technical studies - as well as all the performing arts skills and discipline."    He said the Rock n Roll Eisteddfod acted as a unifying force, bringing the whole school community together.
Moreover, he said Seaview would not have the performing arts program and facilities it now has without the Rock n Roll Eisteddfod.
In 1988 Seacombe High entered the eisteddfod and again in 1989 as Seaview High after Seacombe and Dover High amalgamated.                 
"There was music and some drama, but no dance then," Mr Weatherly said. "But because of the Rockn' Roll Eisteddfod there was a parental and student push for a performing arts program in the school, so it was put on the school development plan.
"A performing arts coordinator was appointed to build it up.
"We now have drama, dance and music as subjects from Year 8 through to Year 12.
"A strong performing arts program in a school is vital for morale and the public standing of the school. To get to the finals is huge publicity for the school."
For the students, the lure of the lights and the stage makes the hard work all worthwhile.
Nina Hassam is veteran of three eisteddfods. "I really enjoy the feeling and the atmosphere of it, and the experience of performing on the Festival Theatre stage," she said.
For Michael Debnam its a mix of gaining performing arts experience, meeting  people and "having a
lot of fun". "You also get to meet different people from other schools," he said. "It's like a big family you get to know everyone."
Nicole Cremer wants a career in the performing arts. "I just like performing," she said. "Getting up on the stage and seeing all the people gives you a big surge of energy."
It seems that winning is a secondary consideration.
"Just getting in the finals is winning," said Nicole.
But you can't help feeling that, should they crack it, there would be dancing in the corridors of Seaview High....

Article from the SUNDAY MAIL:  August 21  1994  page 38

CAST AND CREW

Seth Grantley   puppet handler

Kelly Drummond   army

Kim Mahoney    army

Michelle Gray    puppet handler

Nina Hassam    rangda general

Amy Williams     kechak

Jenna Burbidge    balinese dancer

Nadia Riley    balinese dancer

Emma Elsey    balinese dancer

Heather Bushell    army

Kym Maziakowski    balinese dancer

Annabel Baker-Dinsdale    army

Elysia Kirby    army

Anthea Fogarty    puppet handler

Leah Hani    kechak

Katherine Taubert    kechak

Kelly Crane    army

Melissa Cooper    army

Michael Debnam     monkey general

Nicole Cremer    balinese dancer

Charlene Roberts    balinese dancer

Tracy Fries    army

Simon Griffiths    sun god

Briohny Fallowfield    army

Megan Snell     balinese dancer

Kyung Cook    balinese dancer

Kim Mathieson    sun

Jo Veinberg    sun

Jo Edward    army

Jasmin Corey    kechak

Kim Tilke    army

Anits Field    kechak

Amy Coker    balinese dancer

Narni Hassam     balinese dancer

Hayley Shepherd    sun

Megan Hammond    sun

Rachel Ingerson    balinese dancer

Robin Haskins    army

Ellissa Jolley     kechak/barong

Naida     balinese choreography

Jan Raymond     costume manger

Neville Philp      staff stage manager

Robyn Horley     rehearsal

a whole bunch of fantastic mums for costumes

COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU

Julie Laxton    kechak

Moira Fitzgerald    army

Sasha Frost    kechak/barong

Georgina Campbell    balinese dancer

Casey Bew    balinese dancer

Kelly Harris    kechak

Bradley Morony    puppet handler

Mark Roberts    kechak

Nicole Patten    balinese dancer

Adam Smith    kechak

Julieann Gray    kechak

Rene Bridgland    kechak

Danae Klaver    kechak

Hayley Cummings    kechak

Belinda Jones    kechak

Kim Fallowfield    kechak

Amy Williams    kechak

Debra Patritti     balinese dancer

Mersina Stergiou    kechak

John Bennett    army

Naomi McDonough    kechak

Natalie Shone    kechak

Chad Cooper-Quilliam    army

Heath Johansen     army

Margaret Szelag    army

Vanessa Noble     puppet handler

Charmein Hein     puppet handler

Ben Gallasch    crew leader

Lisa Maziakowski    crew

Carly Hassam    crew

Jodie  Sawtell    crew

Tania Segnan    crew

Sam Adcock     crew

Simon Fitzgerald     crew

Noel Riessen     crew

Lina Nguyen     crew

Bianca Brady     crew

Brooke Barker     crew

Clive Haskins     crew

Adam Hawes    crew

Shane Roberts     crew

Glenn Fraser     lighting

David McVicar     writer/director

Bob Weatherly    coordinator/choreographer

set design & construction