Bali High

Related Content

• Eat Filipino Food at Pistahan Festival This Weekend
  August 10, 2011
• Anti-North Korea Rally, Inspired by 'Homefront' Video Game, Planned for SF
  February 28, 2011
• Kyo-ya Makes Its Sushi Affordable for Takeout Lunch
  August 1, 2011
• Metreon Remodel Shrinks, Isolates Food Court
  April 12, 2011
• This Weekend: Huge Array of Filipino Eats at S.F.'s Annual Pistahan Festival
  August 13, 2010

More About

• Burhan Sukarma
• Yerba Buena Gardens

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

Thank the traditional performing arts of the Indonesian islands for this afternoon of colorful Balinese fancy-dancing and Sundanese gong-bonging galore. Gamelan Sekar Jaya — an Oakland-based ensemble 30 years running and 50 members strong — throws down a dynamic spectacle of choreographed flawlessness surpassing even the most competent voguing of Madonna’s backup dancers. Rug-cutters in the Gamelan style devote years of their lives to master multiple levels of body articulation — the dancers and musicians of Sekar Jaya have made five tours to Bali, and their cross-cultural concerts are the stuff of legend. After the performance, stay tuned for the truly Sundanese musical stylings of Pusaka Sunda, a group helmed by bamboo flute virtuoso Burhan Sukarma. Dedicated to playing the classical gamelan music of West Java, this merry band builds complex rhythms on brass percussion instruments and drums, sweeping up spectators in sublime and delicate constructions. That the entire affair takes place en plein air and is completely gratis as part of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival only makes the promise of interlocking jitterbugs and spellbinding songcraft that much more beguiling.
Sat., Sept. 5, 1 p.m., 2009