Susan Allen
Susan is a holistic educator with 30 years experience integrating arts and movement in teaching learning in a variety of contexts and organizations.
She completed two years towards a PH.D in Holistic Education at the University of Toronto, holds a Masters in Environmental Studies (field work was carried out in Cirebon, Java through ITB (Institute of Technology, Bandung) from 1990-95.
She has an Honours B.A. in Mass Communications, Psychology and Physical Education from York University and is certified in Hatha Yoga, Danskinetics and Pranic Healing. Susan has been in Bali for 13 years.
She worked the Green School for three years teaching a diverse Performing Arts curriculum to include: Improvisation, Physical Theatre, Satirical Theatre, Forum Theatre, Reader’s Theatre, Kamishibai Performance Art, Storytelling, Mask, Shadow Play, Wayang Golek (Rod Puppetry), Musical Theatre and established the initial holistic curriculum for the Kindergarten in the first year of operations of the school.
She co-created Me and My Shadows and organization in Toronto, Canada working with holistic arts in schools, museums, galleries, parks, at events and conferences.
At present she helps to empower and motivate students and teachers to access and nurture their creativity and well-being in Canada, Japan and Indonesia and curates programs through the Yellow Coco Creative Nest in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia – a centre of holistic arts to support the development of creativity and well-being for all.
Susiawan
Susiawan is an artist and children’s arts educator in both Indonesia and Canada with over 30 years experience using the arts as a tool in learning.
He pioneered alternative education using the arts for children in Indonesia – “Yayasan Anak Merdeka”/ Institute for Children’s Freedom of Expression (Bandung, West Java,1981).
Susiawan holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Arts from the Faculty of Art and Design – Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia.
He received the prestigious ASHOKA Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs in pioneering and developing children’s activities using the arts in environmental education (1986).
Susiawan developed an environmental education through the arts program in 8 public schools as a pilot project of the Cirebon Urban Development Project (CUDP, 1990 – 1995) where he trained teachers and students in community participation approach to develop a curriculum on environmental awareness (together with Susan).
He worked as the main art teacher for early years to high school at Green School Bali and pioneered lessons on natural dye batik painting, mask creation, arts for sustainability and Balinese ritual arts (2009 – 2011).
He co- created and co-facililates (with Susan) the Holistic Arts Foundational Training and subsequent arts-focussed specializations to engage, stimulate and support creativity and well-being in teachers and students. Susiawan is also a painter and has shown his work in Indonesia, Canada, Japan and Europe.
Yellow Coco Creative Nest 