Bahasa Indonesia

Year 7 classes

My Year 7 students had a great experience to showcase their musical and dancing skills during class. My Language Assistant Miska, showed the students how to play the Angklung and dance the Cenderawasih dance.

Year 7 played the national Indonesian song by Angklung. The Angklung is a traditional bamboo instrument from West Java, Indonesia. The base of the frame Angklung is held with one hand while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side. Moreover, they are learning traditional Indonesian dance. The dance is called Cenderawasih from Bali. This dance represented the Cenderawasih bird life. They also learnt how to use a fan for dancing.

Below are photos of students’ participation in these events. They enjoyed the experience.

Year 8 Indonesian class - Cendrawasih Dance Bali

Balinese dance is part of an ancient dance tradition incorporate eyes, facial expressions, and bodily gestures. The dance tradition has become part of the religious and artistic expression among the Balinese people (also non-Balinese). Balinese dances are dynamic, angular, and intensely expressive and usually express the stories or dance-drama.

The costumes and makeup reflect the character and the bird itself. Dancers use maroon skirts with a golden motif and also a pair of flowing scarves as the yellow wings. The skirts serve as the colourful tails of the birds of paradise. While the yellow scarves give the impression of wings. The fluttering of the skirts (while moving) gives an impression of flight.

Below students in Year 8 are performing the dance with such elegance with the assistance of my Language Assistant, Miska. It was an opportunity for the students to experience and absorb this great dance and understand the meaning.

Ibu Kaler
Indonesian Teacher