Manhattan showgoers, who generally like their musicals loud, fast, brassy and flashing with luscious showgirls, were skeptical about the Bali Dancers: the female star was going on 13, and they doubted that the gamelan (orchestra) could play Bali Ha'i or any other pop tune. But the first curious audiences spread the word: it was a wonderful show.
Before the curtain parted, a young Javanese woman announced, in careful but cheerful English, each of the nine numbers. She said such reassuring things as: "This dance has no symbolic meaning. It's just a dance." The single...
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