[ Keywords ]
Soundbath, Dance, Tradition, Inherited, Knowledge, Prodigy

[ Inspo ]
- 2012, coming to Yogjakarta before departing for Canada to learn the dances and traditional instruments so that I have something skills to bring when leaving home

- "we talk until we put the moon to bed and wake the sun. bright rays catch over the loft, the bed, us. Sleep catches up. Sleep i dont want but my body demands. and finally, our eyes begin to shut"

- 2019 - coming back to Indonesia and finding a community to learn from. Living in the city means there weren't many around. I had to commute and would tell the motorbike driver to just take the small roads (some no wider than a sidewalk) between the buildings/houses so I wouldn't have to pay much for Gojek (the local Uber app) lol
Everyone else was older and played better. My duet partner had to go to the washroom. I panicked and sort of played random notes to fake his part at the same time playing mine lol

The story of Kaguya-hime

Jaka Tarub

[ Story ]
Village rituals, local events and entertainment are usually held on a concrete hexagonal gazebo, underneath the Bell Tower. Right across the city hall and the post office.

An excellent dancer / protege is in the middle of her solo, backed by a traditional orchestra behind her. They're a talented young bunch, able to master the tune after a couple of months of learning. This dance has been passed down for generations. It's about the story of a Human Prince who lives on Land and the Goddess who lives on the Moon - lovers who are always separated. But one day of the year, a path made of starlight will open making it possible for them to meet halfway - on the surface of the water, in the middle of the Lake. The Human Prince can't use magic, so he'll have to get there by boar. The Goddess always arrives first. She'll happily starts dancing while waiting for him. The music helps guide him, and he reaches her by the end of the song.

some people said that the goddess' scarf is still on earth, given back to the cowherd secretly so that she would have more of an excuse to go down to earth more often to retrieve it. 

While the dance is performed on the gazebo, villagers will usually bring mooncakes or flowers on top of banana leaves to put on the stairs as offerings for the Goddess. Children and teens will bring the wooden and paper boats they've been making all year to float down the stream and into the lake. They usually also make a competition out of it. They say the owner of the first boat to reach the middle of the lake will be blessed with good luck for the year.

Constellate

something to make us dance

[ Keywords ]
Return, Mead, Celebrate, Dance, Joy, Rowdy,  Sweet Memories

[ inspo]

- kingdom dance (tangled) - alan menken

[ Story ]

this chapter ends in a local gathering at the local bar - the only one in town.

everyone’s happy to see damian back in the village for the first time in years. someone's calling for the owner to bring him food and drinks.

sophia : “wow the food is delicious”
ben: *helping the owner serve food* “if you say that to uncle, he’ll cry and love you forever”
sophia: “jajaja it’s probably too rowdy for him to hear, let’s tell him later”

the village kids have been tailing everyone around like little ducklings, curious to see why the adults are busy. 

kids: “ *giggles* “you have to do it like this, sophia, *deep inhale and shouts at the man at the bar* “UNCLE!! sophia loves the food!” 
sophia : *giggles, joins in* “this pie is to die for!”

the uncle is this dad-like chef and owner of the bar.

uncle: “ *touched, overwhelmed* “thank you miss” *looks to damian* “your mother liked my pies too”

damian misses his mother. he’ll always miss her. but he’s also happy that he has everyone around him. she might have left this world, but she left him him a really big family. his mom was beloved by the town. damian can see her everywhere in the places she used to visit, the people she loves, in himself.

the mayor’s makes a heartwarming speech. damian and sophia are departing tomorrow. they finish their food, and the minstrels to starts to play faster.

a little girl : “damian. can you give these flowers to sophia? they’re from my brother” *sees the little brother hiding behind a chair 
sophia: “oh .. my, how beautiful. thank you”
damian: “ah. looks like i have some competition”
sophia: “indeed~”

next door auntie: “boy, wachu doing?? bring your girl to dance!”
“uh, I- ” damian’s usually not shy about being lovey dovey  in front of others, but turns out he is around his hometown ppl
village chief : “nonsense- *pushes damian and sophia to the dance floor* boy i dun care if she’s noble. show our dear guest how we have a good time in our town! now, dance in the middle!”

sophia looks over damian who is being a little awkward, amused. one of the wandering minstrels, a local, puts on a knowing smile and whips up his accordion. other people crowd the floor as well, and they all start dancing.

the dance gets merrier and merrier, people clapping and exchanging dance partners in rotation. the music ends with everyone with their original partners.

Homecoming

Nana

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