Budding magician? Deddy's school's for you<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Instead of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it is
\ncalled the Pentagram School of Magic. Pentagram is identified by
\nsome as a symbol of magic.<\/p>\n
Instead of a gigantic castle in the middle of nowhere, it is a
\nfive-by-five-meter room in a two-story house that is painted
\nblack and located in a residential complex in Bintaro, Tangerang,
\nsouthwest of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Instead of Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Divination and
\nPotions, the lessons are more likely to be The Art of Metal
\nBending, Pet Effect for Reading Inner Thoughts and the Secrets of
\nthe Psychics.<\/p>\n
Welcome to Deddy Corbuzier's magic school, virtually the first
\nmagic school in the country where people of any age can learn
\nabout the world of magic.<\/p>\n
Officially opened last week, the one and only classroom, which
\nis painted black and yellow, looks more like a magic shop with
\nbooks, props and VHS tapes placed neatly on shelves.<\/p>\n
To give a magical atmosphere, skeletons and voodoo dolls are
\nplaced around the room and tarot cards are spread out on a table.
\nA clock that looks like a regular one hangs on the wall, but the
\nhands rotate counterclockwise.<\/p>\n
\"This place is just a small studio. Later on, lessons will
\nalso be held in a five-star hotel on Jl. Jend. Sudirman. A hotel
\noffered me a place there for free,\" said Deddy, whose real name
\nis Deddy Cahyadi Sundjojo, at a media conference.<\/p>\n
As an illusionist, Deddy has been praised for bringing magic
\nback to life in the country, and has taken magic out of the
\namateur field into the professional.<\/p>\n
Known for his Emperor Ming style haircut and makeup, the 27
\nyear old is a regular on stage and TV.<\/p>\n
His trademark is metal bending, but he also likes to work his
\nmagic on the streets. Recently, with his eyes closed, he
\ndemonstrated his telepathic skills by driving through the capital
\nto find a ring hidden in a gutter.<\/p>\n
Despite his success and the emergence of new magicians, Deddy
\nsays that magic is still underrated here.<\/p>\n
\"You see leaflets glued on trees or poles on streets offering
\nmagician and clown performances, side by side with advertising
\nfor septic tank services. That's so sad, you know.<\/p>\n
\"On the other hand, I also want to help those who want to
\nbecome magicians but can't afford to study abroad,\" said Deddy,
\nwho graduated from the International Brotherhood of Magician and
\nZizigy in New Orleans, Louisiana.<\/p>\n
For that reason, Deddy decided to open a magic school, where
\nclasses are basically divided into those for professional
\nmagicians and for those learning as a hobby.<\/p>\n
\"There are no references from any magic school. I can't tell
\nyou yet about the fee either, because it has yet to be fixed.
\nHowever, I'll offer full scholarships for talents who can't
\nafford to pay the fees,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Realizing that he would not be able to teach by himself, Deddy
\ncollaborated with fellow magicians, some of whom taught him magic
\nback when he was little.<\/p>\n
They are magicians Jack Doddy Agussalim who was half of the
\nfamous magic duo Jack & Linda back in the 1960s; Alex H. Sinyal
\nand Bing Rahardja. Deddy refers to each of them as the best in
\nclassical magic.<\/p>\n
There are also more junior magicians and Deddy's mates, Tony
\nPinto and hypnotist Romy Raphael.<\/p>\n
\"I actually just showed you magic by bringing these magicians
\ntogether. Usually, if three magicians meet, there will be a
\nfight. It's true! It's very difficult for magicians of my
\ngeneration to sit together and talk,\" Deddy said.<\/p>\n
The veteran magicians agreed at how competitive the magic
\nworld is nowadays.<\/p>\n
According to Alex, there used to be a magician association
\nthat was very respected.<\/p>\n
\"Every magician would explain their act to the others before
\nperforming so that there would not be the same tricks.<\/p>\n
\"In the 1970s, Indonesian magicians were very respected, even
\nin Asia. Foreign magicians who performed here first had to have a
\nrecommendation from the association,\" said Alex, who owns the
\nbiggest and most complete local magic shop.<\/p>\n
So competitive is the magic world today that recently Deddy
\nwas accused by another magician of trying to reveal how the
\nlatter did a certain trick.<\/p>\n
\"That is not true. I've never disclosed in any way whatsoever
\nanyone else's tricks on TV,\" Deddy said.<\/p>\n
He added that teaching magic tricks at the school was
\ndifferent to revealing the tricks.<\/p>\n
\"Disclosing the way a trick is done would be highly unethical.
\nThe loss would be mainly to people and beginner magicians,
\nbecause a professional magician can always find new tricks to
\nperform,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With his school, Deddy wants to emphasize that there is no
\nsuch thing as supernatural powers involved in magic tricks.<\/p>\n
\"It's all psychological, technique and mind manipulation.
\nAnyone can learn it. If you think that famous magicians who can
\nmake a building and other stuff disappear are using a genie or
\nSatan or whatever, that's wrong. You just don't know the trick,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
At the end of the media conference, the magicians took turn to
\nteach us, reporters, several simple magic tricks.<\/p>\n
\"But you have to swear not to reveal how they are done to
\nanyone, OK? Only then you will find that magic is so much fun,\"
\nDeddy said.<\/p>\n
Interested in mastering magic? Just contact Deddy at his
\nschool at Jl. Perumahan Taman Bintaro A4, Bintaro, Tangerang,
\nTel. (021) 73692959.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/budding-magician-deddys-schools-for-you-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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