Vaughan Hatch established the gamelan side of Mekar Bhuana in 2000 and Putu Evie added the dance side in 2004.
While studying classical gamelan in Bali on a Dharmasiswa scholarship in Bali between 1997 and 1999, Vaughan became aware of how negatively mass tourism was affecting traditional performing art forms. Few classical gamelan ensembles had been recorded and many gamelan were either no longer played or had been melted down. In the year 2000, Vaughan chanced upon purchasing and restoring a disused antique Semara Pagulingan gamelan and came up with the concept of Mekar Bhuana, with the aim of doumenting, reconstructing and repatriating endangered classical gamelan and its extensive repertoire. Since he arrived in Bali, he has been researching Semara Pagulingan and other rare ensembles in Bali.
In 2002 he met Putu Evie Suyadnyani a talented Legong dancer and singer who is now his wife, who also shared the vision. Together they combined the music and dance aspects, professionalizing Mekar Bhuana in 2004. As well as running the centre and Mekar Bhuana Sourcing, they enjoy playing Selonding, Anklung and Gender Wayang together with their family group at ceremonies around Bali.
Join our in-depth workshops led by English-speaking experts, including a native English-speaking ethnomusicologist. With our skilled team, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the art-forms, beyond just practice. Our interactive sessions include PowerPoint presentations, videos, and local practitioner demonstrations. Experience hands-on learning in gamelan or dance, or both. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Balinese music and dance today!
Note that since our centre is family based, we don’t accept walk-ins. All bookings need to be made at least two weeks in advance via email.
If you are thinking of creating or doing a study abroad from your country, you can take a cultural immersion program at our centre.
Choose from the available classes including Semara Pagulingan, Palegongan and Angklung
A family based centre, Mekar Bhuana is attached to our home and focussed around our garden, pavilion and studio areas.
These are some of the facilities and features at Mekar Bhuana:
We have more than 25 gamelan sets at Mekar Bhuana, with 21 at Mekar Bhuana in Bali and four at Mekar Bhuana Aotearoa in New Zealand.
Find out about our completed, current and planned projects as well as how you can help
We are currently restoring Gender Wayang set #5 which consists of four instruments, but keys only as the original casings no longer exist.
We are in the process of trying to get funding to embark on a restoration project of a historic Javanese gamelan with Chinese connections and rare pakurmatan-style instruments that dates back to the early 1800s.