 Dancing by the Sea at Parangtritis Beach, Central Java The movement is the message. – Emilie Conrad
Connecting to the pulse of life through direct experience of the body - whether one is gardening, dancing, riding horses, practicing yoga, or standing still…all fall into a large and wholesome category of somatics. Teaching and learning by examining breath, gravity and sensation through the lens of curiosity, is the foundation of my work as a movement artist and educator. Practicing yoga, dance, horsemanship, creative process through the myriad emotions and sensations creates a larger context for inquiry and discovery. In 2004, somatic pioneer Emilie Conrad, authorized me to teach her exquisite body of work called Continuum. This work, which Emilie developed over the course of many decades, informs every area of my life. It’s hard to describe Continuum. One of my favorite descriptions of the work is by Jim Oschaman, author of Energy Medicine in Therapeutics and Human Performance. He eloquently describes Continuum in the passage below: “Continuum is at the same time a philosophical, scientific, artistic, musical, poetic, and spiritual concept, a cosmology, and an advanced state of consciousness. When applied to our affairs, Continuum leads us naturally to a saner and happier world. In other words, Continuum as an experience is a direct involvement in the harmony and congruence of our inner and outer realities. It enables us to live the real lives of our bodies.” Favorite Emilie quote: "How can I live in the culture and not be bound by it?"
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 Bonnie Simoa and Erin Elder dancing Legong Kutir in Bangli Bali for a cremation ceremony. Balinese dance and culture has been the focus of my research since 1996. How I chose Bali remains a mystery to me. Perhaps Bali chose me, in the way that dance as a life path chooses the dancer. What I do know is that I felt a deep longing to experience dance in a place where it is revered and understood to be spiritually and culturally significant and essential. In May of 1996, I disbanded my dance company, put all my things in storage, entrusted my dear fox terrier to my sister, and boarded a plane to Bali with a hint of a plan to go to Ubud to study Balinese dance. Ubud is the “artistic hub” of Bali. It was a point on the map where the flourishing of what is now an immense collection of experiences began. During that initial trip, longtime expatriate Barbara “Laughing Water” told me about her teacher Sang Ayu Ketut Muklen of Pejeng. “Look for Banjar Sala near Tatiapi and ask for Sang Ayu. Someone there will know where she lives. Pejeng is a few kilometers from Ubud, and I walked up and over the ravine and found her in her compound. That is how it all began. Sang Ayu is the last surviving Legong teacher of her generation. Born in 1926, she dedicated her life to dance, then to teaching, and eventually to teaching tourists from all over the world. After that initial trip, I returned 16 times to study with Sang Ayu and other master dancers. During my studies with her, she passed on the Legong one movement at a time. The complexity and precision of these beautiful dances drew me in. By great fortune, I have been blessed with knowing and studying with some of the most revered dancers on the island of Bali. In addition to studying the Legong Keraton Pelayon, Legong Kutir, Legong Kuntul with Sang Ayu in Pejeng, I studied the Gambuh, Rejang Dewa, and Rejang Sutri with master dancer Ni Ketut Sekarian of Batuan, whose group is dedicated to the preservation of the Gambuh. The infamous dancer and educator Ibu Arini in Denpasar taught me the jewel-like beauty of the Gabor. And Ibu Luh Menek, from the northern village of Tejakula taught me the fierce and fiery Teruna Jaya. In 2014, seven students traveled with me to Bali to meet and study with Sang Ayu, and to perform the Legong Keraton Pelayon at the prestigious Bali Arts Festival (PKB) in Denpasar. Accompanied by the sweet sound of the semar pegulingan gamelan from Teges led by musicologist “Pak Doug” Doug Meyers, we performed to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. Our Balinese dance group, Tirta Tari, formed from the ongoing interest of dancers in Eugene to learn and perform these rich and beautiful dances. Tirta Tari has performed at the Asian Celebration, Reed College, Central Oregon Community College Asian Festival, Lane Community College, and as part of the City of Eugene’s ongoing arts activities. To book Tirta Tari, please contact me via email. |
Bonnie SimoaMaster of Fine Arts in Dance with emphasis in Choreography and Performance from Mills College. Certified Continuum teacher, registered Somatic Dance, Movement, Educator and Therapist through ISMETA-International Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist Association. Yoga RYT-500. Blog Posts |