Authentic Balinese Dance & Gamelan 4

Artists from Peliatan first came to international attention when its gamelan orchestra invited to perform on Paris Colonial Exhibition, in 1931. All Peliatan artists, musicians, dancers, painters, sculptures, created sensation to the European art community in that time, and made Bali becoming well-known as a beautiful and artistic place in the world.

Based on the book “Peliatan Legends; 1993” tells that after the triumph of the 1931, in 1937 the Dutch Colonial Government sponsored a gamelan competition among the best groups, held in open square Gianyar regency, Bali. From this competition they won the first prize and endowed a plaque, a flag, and an exemption for one year of the dreaded “kerja rodi” corvée labor service on the roads!

Next years, the art activities in Peliatan were getting unstable due to political and safety reasons until 1950’s. According to John Coast from his book Dancing out of Bali, said that the leader of janger dancers- female dancers, was kidnapped by an Ambon Military Commander and married. After he returned to Java, the situation was getting worst, and also in that time Indonesia was under the military law. But John Coast still really enthusiastic that one time he would bring Bali Gamelan to the international attention. Finally he got permission and support from the President Sukarno, to bring Peliatan Group to the international attention, to Europe and America.

Peliatan Group Gunung Sari also went to Australia in 1971, and New York and Mexico in 1981.

After regeneration until now the Gunung Sari group is still active doing art activities, preserving the authentic dances of Peliatan. In the night 26 August 2007 as opening they played the classical kebyar instrumental “Kapiraja”. This instrumental work came from the north of Bali, and in that era this composition was really popular as the opening Instrumental, very dynamic. By the Gunung Sari group, the Kapiraja instrumental learned from I Made Lebah (also as the musician), and played this instrumental in every performance of Gunung Sari at the Europe tour. I Made Lebah died in 1996.

at Istana Presiden Tampaksiring. From the left : President Sukarno, Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik, anonymous, Suryawati Djelantik, A.A.Gde Bagus Mandera Erawan

After the Kapiraja, followed by the performance of Gabor dance, a classic welcome dance, adapted from the sacred dance pependetan, which usually performed at the temple during the ceremony process. The Gabor was danced by 8 dancers, from 1970’s generations. They are Luh Mas, Jero Puspa, Jero Winari, Suryawati Djelantik, Gst Ayu Raka, Nyoman Remini, Dayu Agung Anggraini, and Cok Parmini.

According to the dancers, this dance, the Pendet, was firstly made as the request of President Sukarno, to be performed in every formal dinner or welcoming special honorary guest of Indonesian Government at President Palace at Tampaksiring, Gianyar, Bali.

Author : kadek ferry © f-studio
Photo : Doc. Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik