(courtesy of Ki Purbo Asmoro)
(courtesy of Ki Purbo Asmoro)
Prince Ékalaya is from a foreign land and comes to Astina to study archery with the renowned teacher, Durna, but is rejected since he is not one of the Pandhawa or Kurawa lineage. Devastated, he goes off to the forest, creates a clay semblance of Durna, and practices before it. Whenever he has difficulties, he imagines what Durna would say to coach him. After many months, Ékalaya becomes an expert, comes back to Astina, and is embraced by Durna. However….Arjuna, Durna’s top student, is very jealous, and here the troubles begin. But our arts center takes as inspiration the drive, dedication, initiative, and discipline of Ékalaya as a student in a foreign land.
Ekalaya Board of Advisors:
1. The Honorable Ambassador Ibu Kenssy D. Ekaningsih (Yogya and Prague)
2. Alan Feinstein, Executive Director at AMINEF/Fulbright Indonesia
3. Alex Yoffe, Director of FROG (Friends of the Gamelan), Chicago, USA
4. Carla Scheele, Gamelan Kusuma Laras, New York, NY, USA
5. Gabriel Laufer, French Intercultural School in Jakarta—LIFE School
6. Robert Cowherd, Professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Architect of the Ekalaya site
7. Sarah Weiss, University Professor for Ethnomusicology at Kunstuniversität Graz (KUG)
Ekalaya Support Staff:
Wejoseno Yuli Nugroho, Assistant Director of Promotions
Punakawan Solo Channel (live streaming and documentation)
—Kartiko Nugroho
—Danang Susilo
—Wigati Agung
—Aji Mustaqim
—Paksi
Ekalaya Household Staff:
—Marsih, inside household management
—Brigo, grounds management
—Adi, transportation
—Pariyanto, night watchman
—Rizky and Ninot, gardens