Wayang Kulit

In the warm night air of Indonesia, when the world is quiet, I begin to dance. Flicker, flicker, I leap across a big white screen. I am just a shadow, but I have a big story to tell. I hear gentle music and the kind voice of a storyteller who helps me move. Families gather close on their mats, watching me twirl. Can you guess what I am? I am Wayang Kulit, the magical shadow puppets.

A very long time ago, over a thousand years ago, clever hands first made me. They took special leather and carefully cut and painted me to look like brave princes, beautiful queens, and silly monkeys. My storyteller is called a 'dalang.'. The dalang is my best friend. They hold me up to a lamp, and that's when the magic happens. My shadow grows big and I come to life. The dalang gives me my voice and helps me tell exciting stories about being a good friend and being brave when you are scared.

For hundreds and hundreds of years, I have brought people together to laugh and cheer under the stars. On a special day, November 7th, 2003, people from all over the world decided I was a treasure worth keeping forever. Even though I am just a shadow on a screen, I carry stories that fill your heart with wonder. And you can make shadows too. Just find a light, use your hands, and you can tell a story that will dance all on its own.