{"id":42226,"date":"2016-01-14T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-14T19:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=42226"},"modified":"2016-01-17T11:48:20","modified_gmt":"2016-01-17T16:48:20","slug":"balinese-mask-dancing-the-jauk-angel-and-will-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/ro\/journal\/balinese-mask-dancing-the-jauk-angel-and-will-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Balinese Mask Dancing: The Jauk, Angel, and Will Force"},"content":{"rendered":"

Akil Davis<\/a>\u00a0is a director, choreographer, rapper, and dancer\u00a0trained in the Brahe method of mask work, incorporating traditional masks and original imagery. His performances\u00a0combine his\u00a0training in Balinese dance, Thai Classical dance, Modern dance, Butoh, African, Ballet, Jazz, Kabuki, and Noh.\u00a0At Wanderlust Squaw Valley in 2015 he performed three short dances for us, each featuring a different mask.<\/p>\n

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Tell us about the masks in these three videos.<\/h3>\n

All three masks are\u00a0carved and painted by a Balinese Brahman (High Priest) and all originate in the village of Mas in Bali, Indonesia.<\/p>\n

The Jauk (above)<\/strong>\u2014The white the big eyes and smiling teeth. It\u2019s a type of \u201cgood\u201d demon. This is a traditional Balinese Mask. There are two Jauk brothers. One softer, and one more coarse. In ceremony they represent the demeanor of a character when then are lower in spirit or angry. In the video I use the softer.\u00a0The Jauk\u2019s traditional costume is quite elaborate. It spreads its hands wide, repeating movements twice before moving on.<\/p>\n

The Angel<\/strong>\u2014The white with green highlights and accents. This mask stimulates divine energy in the human body and clears away negativity; the Angel is a therapeutic mask, giving the body a divine image and clearing negativity. During performance energetic expansion is major. Feelings of serenity roll in like slow tidal waves.\u00a0I\u00a0dance this mask when people need catharsis. This is designed by myself and my colleague Per Brahe.<\/p>\n