On the Beach, A Man Introduced Himself
As Jimmy Hendrix.
His name definitely got my attention.
Jimmy Hendrix said he was a teacher for a children’s dance
group and announced that there was a performance that very
evening. As a good salesman, he flashed a paper with written
testimonials and emphasized that there would be no charge,
but they would accept donations. Yes of course, count me in!
I love going to unplanned, behind the scene events and I was
looking forward to something new, especially with children.
Jimmy Hendrix said he was a teacher for a children’s dance
group and announced that there was a performance that very
evening. As a good salesman, he flashed a paper with written
testimonials and emphasized that there would be no charge,
but they would accept donations. Yes of course, count me in!
I love going to unplanned, behind the scene events and I was
looking forward to something new, especially with children.
At 7pm, I was collected from my hotel, along with several other
guests and taken by jeep along a dirt country road for about
two miles, to a family walled in compound.. The outside area was
dimly lit, we were seated on wooden benches in a dusty area and
we could view a small, covered stage area.
Beer was for sale, there were a few Germans in the group and it
happily seemed to be the beverage of choice. All was quiet for a
moment and just then, there was a non-rehearsed song and dance
act. A mother chicken and her tiny chicks began harmoniously
peeping and scampering one by one, across yard.
Ha...I mused. They had become the opening act! .
guests and taken by jeep along a dirt country road for about
two miles, to a family walled in compound.. The outside area was
dimly lit, we were seated on wooden benches in a dusty area and
we could view a small, covered stage area.
Beer was for sale, there were a few Germans in the group and it
happily seemed to be the beverage of choice. All was quiet for a
moment and just then, there was a non-rehearsed song and dance
act. A mother chicken and her tiny chicks began harmoniously
peeping and scampering one by one, across yard.
Ha...I mused. They had become the opening act! .
While the young boys of the group played an out of tune, difficult
to listen to music, with instruments including Bali gamelan
(large xylophone), drums and flutes, the girls sat cross legged, in
the front row with looks of boredom. While the girls waited for
their moments of performance, the boys came out, one by one in
brightly colored Balinese costumes, as a Garuda bird, a Rangda
witch and a funky Monkey.
It was certainly unlike any real professional performances that one
would see in Bali. Yet, I enjoyed the whole experience and when
the children entertained, they were cute.
to listen to music, with instruments including Bali gamelan
(large xylophone), drums and flutes, the girls sat cross legged, in
the front row with looks of boredom. While the girls waited for
their moments of performance, the boys came out, one by one in
brightly colored Balinese costumes, as a Garuda bird, a Rangda
witch and a funky Monkey.
It was certainly unlike any real professional performances that one
would see in Bali. Yet, I enjoyed the whole experience and when
the children entertained, they were cute.
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| Jimmy Hendrix and the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali |
 |
| A Garuda at the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali |
 |
| A Rangda (the witch) at the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali |
However, at the very end of the performance, there was a surprise.
Jimmy Hendrix came around to each attendee with a clipboard
(not a basket) which listed past performance donations of amounts,
(not a basket) which listed past performance donations of amounts,
300,000 rupiahs ($25.00 U.S.) and more. As everyone watched,
with family members hovering around our group, we were asked
to record our name, our country and the amount of the donation
onto the clipboard.
with family members hovering around our group, we were asked
to record our name, our country and the amount of the donation
onto the clipboard.
While I’m not one to succumb easily to pressure like this,
I thought for a moment , then recorded and gave 80 rupiahs
($7.00 U.S.) as a donation, the same ticket price of a Bali
professional performance. Then, I passed the clipboard on to
the German guy sitting next to me for his donation.
($7.00 U.S.) as a donation, the same ticket price of a Bali
professional performance. Then, I passed the clipboard on to
the German guy sitting next to me for his donation.
However, by the family's tone in Indonesian and the scornful
look on their faces, they were unhappy with the amount of my
“donation”! Although my Indonesian is basic, I could easily
pick up on the intonation of their voices, the aggressive energy
and it was not a pretty moment.
look on their faces, they were unhappy with the amount of my
“donation”! Although my Indonesian is basic, I could easily
pick up on the intonation of their voices, the aggressive energy
and it was not a pretty moment.
In the beginning, it was so sweet and innocent.
And then, suddenly the event had turned out sour!
I easily flashed back on a couple of life circumstances that
started out romantically sweet and turned out sour!
However as I try to do in life, I will always choose to remember
the pure, innocent, sweetness in this "Sweet and Sour"
experience. Sometimes I get carried away with Bali bliss, which
can easily be done because I am only here for a couple of months.
When in reality, anyone who lives here in Bali will announce ......
"All is Not Paradise in Bali".
I just ( November 2015 ) met this "Jimmy Hendrix" with the same story. My sixth sense told me that something is not right. I googled and find this blog. Thank you for this. I will surely NOT going to this performance.
ReplyDeleteAs we were walking down the barely lit road to the school, we realized something was off. Thank you for the blog post!
ReplyDeleteWe attended the show this week. The kids have obviously improved their skills since 2014, as the music was almost professional. The dancers were cute and three of the girls good enough to embark on a dancing career. We really enjoyed the show and did not mind the donation list at all. It makes the inflow of money transparant. We paid 100.000 rupiahs, equalling approx. 7 euros, which was well received. No negativity or hostility. The teacher does a good job keeping the cultural traditions alive. Don't missit!
ReplyDeleteWe attended the show in August 2017. Kids loved to perform, no pressure layed on.
ReplyDeleteAlso kids which were not part of the show danced at the side just outside the area of the performance. Everybody was having fun.We paid also 100.000 rupiahs also in our group no negativity or hostility.
I would say decide for yourself if you want to go, but we took the "gamble".
You can make the difference for the little kids in a small community for a little amount of money.
And you get a show of 50 minutes to enjoy.
Don't miss it !
We have just been in Lovina one week ago and went to the Dance Performance. We also had the same bad experience. In the beginning it was an innocent performance and we did not mind to give a donation to the children. But at the end the teacher was pushing us to give a min amount of 100.000 IND, wich is approx the same amount as for an ticket in Ubud. He seid we should keep in mind that we would have to pay 100.000 UND in Ubud and therefore we should not give not less. As I said, he spoke about a donation and then he forces peoples to given a min. amount. We gave 50.000 each and he was not happy at all.
ReplyDeleteWe also did not like that he enters hotels to attract peoples for his performance. Also he talked to western wourist only. Our hotel was quite good visited by Indonesien Tourist as well. This had a bad taste for me as well... because I think also Indonesien peoples are interested to support to keep theire culture alive.
Thank you for your article! We are a family of four from Austria currently staying in Bali (Feb. 2019). We where asked just yesterday to join the performance. We didn't promise to come we just said we would think about it. Jimmy is very persuadive! Take care! Later we decided not to get there due to the dubious impression Jimmy made. This evening he came to our hotel (I don't know how he found out where we stay) and wanted to force us to come with him to the performance. He said that we had promised it and that he had relied on us. Furthermore we should have told him via phone that we would not come although he didn't tell us his number or anyhing the day before - so, how could we? In his oppinion our behavior attracts bad Karma for us as well as for him. He was meant to cancle the whole performance. He feigned to have rent a room with stage for it. All in all he really tried to make us a bad conscience. We resisted though. I think it's all about rippin off. Better see an official dance performance. Who knows if those children ever see one Rupiah or if he ever really does it for them.
ReplyDeleteI went to see a children's show in 2017. I think the performers were skilled and the music played well. After the show, we stayed to chat with Jimmy and his family. They were friendly and their company was nice. Jimmy has to work hard to get funding for a dance school that can seem aggressive. He teaches children because he feels it's a mission, it's not his business. He made a living for his family as a taxi driver and tour guide. Donations from the shows are used to help children and their families. Donations are used to buy food and school supplies for the children. The children are from low-income families, and the action prevents their marginalization. Money is also needed to buy performance outfits. Teaching the children and obtaining funding for the activity requires time, and it takes away from Jimmy's income for his own family. All donations are recorded in order to keep the operation open. From the children's skills and well-being, everyone can see that the money has gone to the right destination. I happily gave 50e for the children so that the activity would have continuity.
ReplyDelete