Photo by Byba Sepit

About Us

Under the direction of our Balinese directors I Nyoman Saptanyana and Ida Ayu Ari Candrawati, we study, perform, and teach the music and dance of Bali in New York City and surrounding areas. Our members come from a variety of academic, professional, and artistic backgrounds.

Our Teachers

Dharma Swara Music Director I Nyoman Saptanyana began playing gamelan at the age of seven, performing with his neighborhood ensemble in the village of Ubud. He obtained a bachelors degree in music from the Indonesian National Conservatory (ISI) in Denpasar, Bali in 1989, and went on to lead the Sadha Budaya group in Ubud from 1986 - 2000 as well as the ARMA ensemble, Kumara Sari, from 1995-2000. In 1999, he led the children's gamelan at ARMA to victory in the gamelan gong kebyar competition at the island-wide Bali Arts Festival. Mr. Saptanyana has performed in international tours in Asia and Europe. He is currently a local staff member at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in New York City.

Dharma Swara Dance Director Ida Ayu Ari Candrawati began dancing the challenging pelegongan repertoire at age seven under the renowned teacher Cok Istri Agung of Singapadu village. Her professional dancing career began with the Sadha Budaya group of Ubud in 1982. In 1992 she graduated from the Indonesian National Conservatory (ISI) in Denpasar, Bali. She has performed in international tours in Asia and Europe. From 1995-2000 she danced with the ARMA ensemble, Kumara Sari, and in 1999 choreographed a new work that was performed at the island-wide Bali Arts Festival. She became dance director of Gamelan Dharma Swara in 2001.

Our Organizers

Eric Hung is Associate Professor of Music History at Westminster Choir College of Rider University and Executive Director of Gamelan Dharma Swara. In terms of scholarly research, his two main research projects focus on the presentation of Chinese-ness on the American concert stage and on the musical representation of Asian and Asian Americans in American film and television. As a performer, Eric is an active gamelan musician and pianist. Eric received an ARCT in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, a BA in social studies and music from Wesleyan University, and a PhD in musicology from Stanford University.

Arts Indonesia President, Christopher Romero has been playing gamelan music since 1986 when he began performing with San Francisco Bay Area group Gamelan Sekar Jaya. He helped lead that group on a tour of Bali in 1992. He has studied with I Gusti Ngurah Sukra Aji, I Nyoman Windha, I Wayan Suweca, I Wayan Sujana, I Made Arnawa, I Wayan Loceng, Pak Dig, Ketut Partha and many others. He studied Indian music at Ali Akhbar Khan College in San Rafael. He has also played in bands such as The Brickmen in San Francisco, Pellet and Buddha Belly in Toronto, and The Code International in New York. Mr. Romero is a new media developer in New York City.

Interested in learning and playing with Gamelan Dharma Swara?

Rehearsals are held at the Indonesian Consulate on Sundays from 1-4 and Wednesdays from 7-9.

Taking lessons and workshops:  We hold beginners workshops in music and dance at the end of August and January and our Assistant Directors offer specialy scheduled workshops to various organizations and universities in the New York City area. Please email info@dharmaswara.org for more information about classes and workshops.

Performing: Gamelan Dharma Swara performs regularly throughout New York City and the greater tri-state area. We accept new members at the beginning of September and January. Our rehearsals are always open to the public, but being part of the performing troupe for any one event will of course be at the discretion of the directors and depends ultimately on ability and commitment. Please email join@dharmaswara.org for more information about joining the group.

Past Balinese Guest Artists

Ni Ketut Suryatini, I Nyoman Catra Desak Suarti Laksmi, I Nyoman Suadin, I Nyoman Windha, I Wayan Dibia, I Gusti Putu Sudarta, I Madé Bandem, I Madé Sidia, Ni Madé Pujawati, Ni Swasthi Bandem, I Nyoman Sedana, I Gusti Nyoman Darta.