Free Balinese “Gamelan in the Garden” in Golden Gate Park (SF)

Gamelan in the Garden, presented by Gamelan Sekar Jaya with the Gardens of Golden Gate Park on Saturday, June 8, 2024, is a showcase of Balinese performing arts held in the beautiful San Francisco Botanical Garden. We are overjoyed to be invited once again to the San Francisco Botanical Garden for a second year after celebrating the overwhelming success of Gamelan in the Garden last Spring! Nestled within Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Botanical Garden is an enchanting 55-acre oasis showcasing over 8,000 varieties of plants from around the globe.

Free for San Francisco Residents w/ valid ID, Non SF Residents must pay garden admission fee of $17

The afternoon will kick off at 1:00 PM with a free performance by Gamelan Sekar Jaya’s jegog ensemble, large bamboo instruments sure to wake you up and encourage you to dance along! The jegog is joined by our marching beleganjur ensemble, full of drums and crashing cymbals. The jegog and beleganjur performance is followed by a free workshop on the Jegog instruments, suitable for all ages and experience levels. The Jegog performance and workshop will take place in the Great Meadow. Additionally, Gamelan Sekar Jaya will be joined by Harmonic Drift, an immersive and interactive percussion ensemble-on-wheels, sure to bring out everyone’s inner child through playful and joyous exploration.

At 4:00 PM in the Celebration Garden, Gamelan Sekar Jaya presents Perang Undur-Undur, a spectacular dance-drama in the Balinese gambuh tradition accompanied by the hauntingly beautiful bronze gamelan semar pegulingan. Gambuh dates back to the 16th century, and is rarely performed in the United States. In this performance, Gamelan Sekar Jaya brings this ancient tradition to the modern stage, sharing with audiences an epic tale of invasion, trickery, heroism, and — ultimately — the restoration of balance. Tickets for the 4:00 PM performance are $25, and may be purchased here.

This season, Gamelan Sekar Jaya’s ensembles are directed by I Gede Oka Artha Negara (jegog), Ni Nyoman Srayamurtikanti (semar pegulingan), and I Made Suteja (dance).

Limited seating available at the venue. Bringing a blanket or a camp chair is recommended. There is an admission fee to the SF Botanical Gardens (free for SF residents). Admission to the Garden is included in a ticket purchase for the 4:00 PM performance.

Parking is limited at Golden Gate Park, other modes of transport such as mobile apps, biking or public transportation is highly encouraged. We recommend bringing a blanket and snacks to enjoy the shows! Limited seating will be available with priority to folks with mobility/accessibility needs.

Gamelan in the Garden 2024 is supported by an AIFIS-Luce Small Grant from the American Institute for Indonesian Studies (www.aifis.org).

Banner head photograph taken by Arvian Heidir during our Gamelan in the Garden performance at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Spring 2023. Melati Citrawireja (center) and dance ensemble members dancing janger.