In the most recent classes it has been exciting and interesting to see how we have been able to apply what we have learned to create short performances of the scenes of the Ramayana. I really did not think we knew enough about classical Asian performance to create some of the scenes we have made. The most surprising thing about it, I think, is that it has been seemingly easy as well. There has not been much thinking or planning of how to do the scene, who should be the characters etc. We decide on a scene, people step up as the characters and everything else seems to work it self out. The first scene we made was the when Ravana was trying to rape Sita, and currently we are working on the scene when Sita sees the golden deer and asks Rama to get it for her. Through creating these scenes I have also finally understood the importance of the chack (?) circle. Before I thought they were just there for the sake of making "music", but now I understand that their purpose is much greater than that. The circle holds the rasa (spelling?) of what is going on in the performance, and what they chant is reflected in the actors. In essence, the chack circle determines what happens in the performance.

I was a little hesitant about the performance at Kimball. I didn't know if I wanted to do it or if I would be brave enough to do it. Now that we started working on it, it doesn't seem so bad anymore. I just hope I don't get too nervous before the performance.