Cudamani is a music and dance ensemble from the South Pacific island country of Bali. 

The 12 members of the group have traveled from afar and will illuminate Doudna’s theater with songs that have been passed down to them from their down, said Dwight Vaught assistant dean of the college of arts and humanities. 

For the past week, the ensemble has been traveling to schools in the area, introducing children and music students at Eastern to their brand of music. 

Vaught said while their music may seem foreign to most, the songs they will perform are second nature to them.

“From the moment they are born, these performers are immersed in the arts, and what they know is passed down from generation to generation,” Vaught said. 

Their music is all played with acoustic instruments, and Vaught explained that all the instruments are fitted for the performers of the group. He said if one instrument from Cudamani’s troupe were taken and put into another troupe that plays the same music, it would not mesh well. 

He said the instruments are all hand-made, and while audience members may not understand what is going on, they will understand that the performers simulate melodic chords and choral progressions with their very earthy sound similar to Western music. 

He said the group’s meticulous performances are a result of their culture. 

“Everything from costumes to dances all have significance, and the way some of the performers walk in their costumes has to do with the gender roles,” Vaught said. 

The masks the performers wear on stage all have unique facial expressions, and Vaught said that they can name what kind of tree the mask was carved from and what importance it bears on their culture. 

While the music is in a different language and varies in terms of tone and sound, Vaught said it still has some similarities to Western music that the audience members will be able to pick up on. 

Vaught said when he watched them perform, he saw how polarizing Cudamani’s culture is to them, as it is an all-encompassing factor in their routine — in song, dance, costumes and colors. 

“You come a way with knowing what the their culture is like, Vaught said. “ They are one with their instruments and music, and it is a huge learning experience that most people won’t get to see unless they travel to their homeland.”

Jaime Lopez can be reached at 581-2812 or jlopez2@eiu.