In 2009/2010, I spent a sabbatical year in Southeast Asia and India, and fell in love with Balinese Shadow puppet theater, otherwise known as Wayan Kulit. Long before I knew I would return to Bali to teach, I brought this authentic art experience back to the States, as a yearly 3-day immersive learning experience for upper elementary and middle schoolers.

Co-created with our phenomenal music teacher, the goal of the immersive was to evoke the spirit and magic of Bali. We planned a gamelan and kecuk workshop with a local Balinese music studio, ate at an Indonesian restaurant, and studied traditional Balinese paintings. Students learned about the Ramayana (a traditional story used for shadow puppet shows), created their own puppets, and designed their own musical compositions! Students took ownership of every aspect of the final show, from lighting and stage design to writing and narration. The project was so successful that we always had an annual waiting list.