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Resource materials for K-12 teachers and students, introducing Balinese performing arts to learn about cultural and environmental issues. We offer a variety of videos of shadow puppetry, hands-on guides for classroom activities, and specific curriculum resources for individual grade levels.

Videos of Balinese Shadow Puppetry Shows

This short shadow play is inspired by traditional Balinese folktales centered around the monkey character Lutung, a smart trickster character beloved by children in Bali. We added an environmental element to the play, dealing with plastic pollution in the oceans.

This video is an original puppetry play based on a traditional Balinese folk tale. The video was produced during Covid-19 quarantine with all aspects recorded separately across different states. Sound and music recordings were sent in from Oahu HI and Hawai’i HI, puppet recordings were created in San Francisco CA, and editing was compiled in York ME.

This video was produced with all artists in residence in Oahu, HI at the East West Center Gallery.

Gamelan Music Video:

This video provides a short introduction to Balinese Gamelan music and the instruments on which it is played.

To request access to the full video, click here.

Pedanda Baka_ The Pond Prankster Video:

A wayang shadow puppetry play based on a traditional Balinese childrenʻs fable about a mischievous stork. The play deals with environmental issues such as water scarcity, rising temperatures, and habitat loss. For K-12 audiences.

Lutung and the Bees Video:

Lutung and the Bees is a Balinese shadow puppet play (wayang kulit) performed by the Jaga Alam Ensemble, directed by master artist Made Moja. Part of the Jaga Alam project, this play tells the story of Lutung, a monkey messenger in a forest community facing environmental challenges like deforestation, habitat loss, and pollution. This performance combines traditional Balinese arts with a message about the importance of protecting the natural world. Themes explored include biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and coastline erosion.

Teachers Manual:

Wayang Kulit

This teacher’s manual provides useful background information on Balinese music, dance, and art as well as on Wayang Kulit (shadow theatre). Inside you will find materials and classroom activities to accompany our production of Lutung the Messenger. These materials can be adapted for grades K-12.

Wayang Teachers Resource Guide Download

Pedanda Baka: The Pond Prankster

Teacher Resource Guide on Balinese performing arts, Balinese culture, and environmental issues affecting island communities.

Pedanda-Baka-Wayang-Guide Download