Recently, Gamelan DanAnda presented ‘Bali by the Lake’ in Coburg, Melbourne, on September 6, 2026. What was featured in the event, and what is the actual purpose of organizing such cultural events?
John Cheong-Haldaway is an economist who also serves as the Artistic Director of Gamelan DanAnda. According to John, Gamelan DanAnda welcomes people of all ages who wish to join and learn Balinese Gamelan to gain insight into Indonesian culture.
At the "Bali by the Lake" event, in addition to performances of Balinese and other dances by Melbourne-based troupes such as Sanggar Lestari, the audience was given the opportunity to participate in Balinese dance and *angklung* workshops; children were also encouraged to join in. As Artistic Director, John hopes that Gamelan DanAnda can serve as a space for multicultural collaboration—a place where people from diverse cultural backgrounds can work together, thereby helping to neutralize the racism that sometimes arises within the community.
