West Sumatran Minangkabau Traditions: A Randai Theatre Performance and Illustrated Lecture by Edy Utama

Shangri La, Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
4055 Papu Circle
Honolulu, HI 96816

Saturday, February 4, 2012
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Open House
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Concert/Lecture
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Refreshments

West Sumatran Minangkabau culture is the result of a long process of dialogue between various world cultures with a matrilineal kinship system in combination with Islamic religion. This salon focuses on elements of Minangkabau culture beginning with dance and musical selections from the Randai theatre production The Genteel Sabai performed by students from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Theatre and Dance Department. Sumatran Minang cultural expert, scholar, and photographer Edy Utama, will follow the performance with an illustrated talk, Contemporary West Sumatran Minangkabau Traditions with the aid of interpreter, Rohayati Paseng. The talk will focus on the characteristics that make up this unique culture and the ways in which the culture is changing due to pressure from the Indonesian government and an increasingly westernized world.

$15 per person
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Please note there is no parking at Shangri La or in the surrounding neighborhood. Access to Shangri La is by shuttle van only.
Van service to Shangri La will begin at 1:15 p.m. from the Kapi’olani Community College, parking lot B.

The mission of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art is to promote the study and understanding of Islamic arts and cultures. In the context of the increasing tension between the U.S. and the Muslim world, DDFIA plays a unique role in the growing dialogue among scholars, artists and the public about how to help cultivate mutual understanding.

“INDONESIAN RANDAI THEATRE AT UHM: INSIGHTS INTO THE ADAPTATION AND REHEARSAL PROCESS”
A Presentation by Kirstin Pauka, professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Professor Pauka and some of her collaborators will share insights into the rehearsal and production process of training and performing Randai theatre from West Sumatra. This is the third Randai production Pauka has directed in the Department of Theatre at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; UHM is the only place outside of Indonesia where audiences can see Randai theatre. 

This Spring, the UHM’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents the rare theatre form of Randai with its production of “The Genteel Sabai,” a folk dance-drama from the Minangkabau ethnic group in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Randai comes from the Minangkabau ethic group in Sumatra, and features beautiful traditional music and singing, martial arts, dance and acting; and its signature pants-slapping percussion!

Kirstin Pauka is a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is uniquely suited to the career of director, performer, scholar and most especially teacher of Asian and cross-cultural theatre.

Randai play “The Genteel Sabai” Comes to Kennedy Theatre with Pants-Slapping Action

The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents the rare theatre form of randai with its production of “The Genteel Sabai,” a folk dance-drama from the Minangkabau ethnic group in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Synopsis: A daughter seeks revenge for the murder of her father in this exciting folk dance-drama. Randai comes from the Minangkabau ethic group in Sumatra, Indonesia, and features beautiful traditional music and singing, martial arts, dance and acting; and its signature pants-slapping percussion!

Dr. Kirstin Pauka, Director and Professor of Southeast Asian Theatre at UHM along with guest teachers from Indonesia, bring this exciting theatre form back to Kennedy Theatre’s main stage Feb. 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. Randai combines beautiful singing, talempong music, dancing, acting, and story-telling along with its signature pants-slapping percussion and the Indonesian martial arts form called silat. This is the third time Pauka has directed a randai play at UHM, the first in 2001 (“Umbuik Mudo and The Magic Flute”) and the second in 2005 (“Luck and Loss: Manandin’s Gamble”). Audiences will have an opportunity to attend two pre-show chats on Feb. 4 and 11 at 7 p.m.

“The Genteel Sabai”

UHM Department of Theatre and Dance

Feb. 3, 4*, 9, 10, 11* at 8 p.m
Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
*Free Pre-show Chats: Feb. 4 and 11 at 7 p.m.

UHM’s Kennedy Theatre, Mainstage

$22 regular; $20 seniors, military, UH faculty/staff; $12 students; $5 UHM students with validated fall 2011 UHM photo ID.; all service charges included in ticket price.

Onstage seating will be available on a first-come first-serve basis at the performance to all ticket holders. Tickets are available online now at www.etickethawaii.com, at outlets, and by phone at 944-2697. Tickets available at Kennedy Theatre Box Office beginning Jan. 23. Call 956-7655 for more information or visit the Kennedy Theatre website.

UHM Student Buy-One-Get-One-Free Night: Thurs. Feb 9, tickets available beginning at 5 p.m.

Act I of Luck and Loss: Manandin’s Gamble

Luck and Loss: Manandin’s Gamble

Traditional Indonesian Randai
Directed by Kirstin Pauka
Guest Master Artists: Mohamad Halim and Saparman Bin Jamaludin

Jan. 28, 29, Feb. 3, 4, 5, 6 2005

A traditional West Sumatran Randai folk play featuring martial arts, dance, singing, music, and pants-slapping percussion, Manandin’s Gamble is a traditional coming-of-age story about love, gambling, and adventure. Master artists from West Sumatra, Mohamad Halim, internationally renowned master of traditional Minangkabau music, and Saparman Bin Jamaludin, master-teacher of Randai dance, acting, and silat (martial arts) will provide specialized training. UHM is the only university in the world that produces Indonesian Randai in English.

Luck and Loss: Manandin’s Gamble

Traditional Indonesian Randai
Directed by Kirstin Pauka
Guest Master Artists: Mohamad Halim and Saparman Bin Jamaludin

Jan. 28, 29, Feb. 3, 4, 5, 6 2005

A traditional West Sumatran Randai folk play featuring martial arts, dance, singing, music, and pants-slapping percussion, Manandin’s Gamble is a traditional coming-of-age story about love, gambling, and adventure. Master artists from West Sumatra, Mohamad Halim, internationally renowned master of traditional Minangkabau music, and Saparman Bin Jamaludin, master-teacher of Randai dance, acting, and silat (martial arts) will provide specialized training. UHM is the only university in the world that produces Indonesian Randai in English.

Annie Lokomaikaʻi Lipscomb, a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, discusses her experience with Randai in 2005.

Gilbert Molina, a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, discusses his participation in the 2005 Randai performance at Kennedy Theatre.

Dr. Kirstin Pauka, a professor of Southeast Asian Theatre at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, discusses dance within Randai.

KHON News coverage from 2005 about the local production of Luck & Loss: Manandin’s Gamble.

For more information vist hawaii.edu/theatre

Umbuik Mudo & The Magic Flute
Produced and Directed by Kirstin Pauka

Feb 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, & 11 2001

Martial arts, songs and instrumental music, dance, acting and storytelling combine in this unique West Sumatran theatrical form. Rarely performed outside of Indonesia, Umbuik Mudo is a tragic love story that unfolds amidst the wild jungles of Sumatra complete with magic flutes, robbers and dangerous quests. UHM students will train under guest artists in preparation for this production.

For more information vist hawaii.edu/theatre