Balinese dance performance kicks up a fuss among scholars<\/p>\n
By Putu Wirata<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, BALI (JP): A number of dancers delicately performed
\nthe Rejang Dewa sacred dance on the stage at Candi Prambanan
\nHindu Temple in Yogyakarta in a tawur kesanga (purification)
\nritual to welcome the Caka New Year (Nyepi) early this month.<\/p>\n
Sitting in the front row were VIP guests including President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid and First Lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, members of
\nthe Cabinet, Hindu leaders, scholars, foreign dignitaries and
\nhundreds of other guests.<\/p>\n
In the reform era, like other religious followers, the Hindu
\ncommunity feels an urgent need to hold the ritual outside of Bali
\nand to invite high-ranking government officials to witness one of
\nthe most important rituals.<\/p>\n
Organized by famous Balinese artist and scholar I Made Bandem,
\nnow rector of the ISI Yogyakarta Arts Institute, the ritual was
\nhighlighted with the sacred Rejang Dewa dance.<\/p>\n
A dozen dancers, mostly students of ISI Yogyakarta, were clad
\nin white costumes and wore head crowns made of coconut leaves.
\nThe dance was accompanied by a gamelan orchestra also played by
\nISI students.<\/p>\n
The dance begun a few minutes before sunset. The atmosphere
\ncould never be as sacred as in an inner-temple in a Balinese
\nvillage.<\/p>\n
The huge crowd and the celebratory mood at the ritual
\ndiminished the sanctity of the Rejang Dewa dance.<\/p>\n
Rejang Dewa dance is one of several inner-temple dances
\nperformed to delight and entertain visiting spirits.<\/p>\n
The dance consists of a slow procession and graceful and
\ndelicate movements. The dancers wear traditional temple costumes
\n(white or yellow) and elaborate headdresses of gold and fresh
\nflower decorations.<\/p>\n
A number of scholars and legislators such as Ngurah Bagus, Ida
\nBagus Yuda Triguna and Putu Alit Bagiasna expressed concern over
\nBandem's effort to stage the sacred dance, saying they considered
\nit sacrilegious.<\/p>\n
Bandem dismissed the criticism, saying the dance had not been
\ndedicated to the President or other guests. The tawur kesanga
\nritual was held on April 2 from dawn until afternoon. In the
\nmorning, thousands of Hindu devotees attended the ritual.<\/p>\n
\"The government officials were invited to attend the afternoon
\nsession including the performance of the Rejang Dewa dance,\"
\nBandem explained.<\/p>\n
The dance, he said, was not performed to entertain these
\nofficials. \"It was part of the ritual and it was especially
\nperformed to honor gods and holy spirits,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Staging a national-level ceremony at Candi Prambanan complex
\nwould certainly attract people from different religious and
\ncultural backgrounds, Bandem said.<\/p>\n
\"The guests were multiethnic. Be it in Bali or other
\nprovinces, any big religious event is attended by government
\nofficials,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Controversy over the performance of ritual and secular dance
\ncontinues among Balinese scholars and religious leaders.<\/p>\n
In previous years, many protests were lodged with the
\norganizers of the annual Bali Arts Festival for performing sacred
\ndances like Janger Api, Sang Hyang, Baris Gede and Gong Sloding
\nfrom Tenganan.<\/p>\n
According to Bandem, Balinese dances are divided into three
\ncategories. The first category is tari wali (sacred dance) such
\nas Rejang, Sanghyang, Baris and Gabor dances, mostly performed in
\nthe inner temple.<\/p>\n
The second category is tari babali (ceremonial dance), a dance
\nperformed to open a religious ritual performed in a temple yard
\nsuch as Gambuh dance, mask dance.<\/p>\n
The last category is secular dances performed as entertainment
\nsuch as Arja traditional drama, kebyar, Barong, legong and cak.<\/p>\n
\"Some secular dances like barong and cak were previously
\nritual dances. They became entertainment dances to meet tourists'
\ndemands,\" Bandem pointed out.<\/p>\n
But why are Balinese scholars enraged when an artist performs
\na duplicate of the sacred dances in public?<\/p>\n
Many believe it is oversensitivity on the part of the Balinese
\ncommunity and religious leaders in facing the dynamic changes in
\nthe arts and in society.<\/p>\n
It would be an exaggeration to say Balinese artists perform
\nsacred dances to delight government officials. But, with the
\nchanging times, the whole Balinese Hindu community must again
\ncontemplate and reinterpret the existing dance categories.<\/p>\n
It is important to preserve sacred dance for ritual purposes
\nas well as to encourage young artists to be more mindful and
\ncreative in recomposing traditional Balinese dances into artistic
\ncontemporary works.<\/p>",
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