(8/7/2006)
Indonesian female director Ariani Darmawan has recently completed the documentary "Anak Naga Beranak Naga" (Dragon Begets Dragon) which uses the traditional Jakarta (Betawi) musical form of Gambang Kromong to trace the cultural assimilation of the Capital's ethnic Chinese community. Taking full advantage of the more open style of expression permitted in modern Indonesia, Damawan explores the intense overlap and cross-fertilization of indigenous Betawi Culture with the cultural traditions of the large ethnically Chinese community found in Indonesia's capital.
By exploring the popular and quintessentially Jakarta musical form of Gambang Kromong, this promising young Indonesian filmmaker demonstrates that modern Indonesian society is indeed a wonderfully rich admixture of the countless ethnicities that comprise Indonesia today. By using music as the medium to explore deeper issues, Anak Naga Beranak Naga demonstrates how the cross-fertilization of Javanese, Sundanese, Deli and Chinese cultures has resulted in a musical form that is greater than the sum total of its component parts. By extension, the film begs the larger question: What constitutes modern Indonesian society and the rich promise of the national motto – "Unity in Diversity" (Bhinekka Tunggal Ika).
A Celebration of Betawi Culture
In addition to a special screening in Bali of the documentary 'Anak Naga Beranak Naga' the evening will also include a live performance of Kroncong Tugu melodies together with a special performance of the Lenggag None dance performed by an accomplished Betawi Dance Troupe.
Presented by On Stage
The single evening Bali premiere of Anak Naga Beranak Naga and a Betawi Culture experience are presented by On Stage - a Bali-based organization that endeavors to celebrate the diversity of the universal human spirit via the regular cultural events in the form of dance, theatre, film and art exhibitions.
Anak Naga Beranak Naga & Betawi Cultural PerformanceAnak Naga Beranak Naga - a documentary film by Ariani Darmawan will be shown at the
Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa's Budaya Stage in conjunction with a special Betawi cultural performance at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2006.
Suggested Admission donation is Rp. 110,000 (approximately US$12.00).
[
Anak Naga Beranak Naga Website]
© Bali
Discovery Tours. Articles may be quoted and reproduced
if attributed to http://www.balidiscovery.com.
