Background:
Silat is a type of martial art, practised in the Malay peninsula.
There are many types of Silat, different schools teach different types, tiger, eagle, etc.
There is actual combat, and also a performance aspect.
Weapons used include the parang (a farming tool with a sharp edge) and Keris (dagger with jagged edges to hurt internal organs and for poison)
Through the eyes of a theatre student:
- Silat is a type of art form that is based on slow movements followed by fast actions. When watching the instructor perform, I became aware of the power this holds, as it keeps the tension high and the audience engaged. They also play with proxemics and acting space, going wider on the sudden movements and conserving energy by staying closed up and balanced during the slower movements
- Another thing that really added to the performance was the music. Gamelan degung is a Sundanese musical ensemble that uses a subset of modified gamelan instruments with a particular mode of pelog scale. The instruments are manufactured under local conditions in towns in West Java such as Bogor.
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- I have found this music before on Spotify and found it fascinating as it evokes such strong emotions, and I believe when paired with the movements, they add to the energy and keep the audiences focused on the performance.
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- Finally, I found the energy while performing the art was extremely interesting. Keeping composure, and performing the fluid but precise movements require you to not only tense all of your muscles but also requires you to be fully aware of your surroundings. This creates an amplifies your stage presence, and would be captivating to use in a piece