Ketut Mulada: A dancing art pioneer in north Bali

Ketut Mulada: A dancing art pioneer in north Bali

DENPASAR, Bali (Antara): His face radiates with simplicity but
he has a number of achievements in the art of dancing and
percussion. Since his childhood he has loved traditional
orchestra and is a master of various dances.

I Ketut Mulada, 59, born in Kawan hamlet in Buleleng Regency,
northern Bali, is inseparable from the arts. The fit and healthy
man took part in the creation of tabuh kreasi Sekar Jepun, (a
piece of music),an asset for the Buleleng Regency's orchestra in
facing the Badung Regency's orchestra in the Gong Kebyar
festival. The festival was held for the first time in Bali in
Semarapura, Klungkung Regency.

The activities under Ketut Mulada, a father of two sons and
two daughters, have a big significance in promoting arts in
northern Bali. The sekeha (orchestra) under his pioneering, has
created new items, including Merak Elok, (a beautiful peacock).
The instrumental melody of the Balinese traditional orchestra,
according to its name indah (beautiful), was recorded on tape.

Within a short time, the tapes were circulated to all corners
of Buleleng Regency, arousing the enthusiasm of the local
community to learn and go over the art of tabuh (a sort of drum),
which is accompanied by a kind of dance, and has now become one
of the attractions for tourists.

Two of Mulada's children are married, and they have also
inherited their skills in beating a tabuh, as well as Balinese
dancing. With Mulada's achievements and dedication, the Bali
regional administration has given him the Adikarya award for
pioneering tourist art shows.

Ketut Malada is one of six individual artists and three art
assemblies which have received similar awards extended by the
Bali vice governor, I Gusti Bagus Alit Putra, at the closing
ceremony of the Nusa Dua Festival last September. The head of
Bali's regional cultural office, Ida Bagus Pangjaya, said the
awards of Rp 2 million each for the winners were expected to
encourage artists to continue with their activities and to give
examples for the promotion of art shows for art shows, which are
beginning to flourish.

Tourism is developing quickly in Bali and has a positive
impact on various aspects of life and development. This has been
sustained by the cultural arts, which are connected with Bali's
folk life. Art is one of the potential assets in promoting
tourism, and is also a mainstay in encouraging economic activity.
It serves as a means for increasing people's income and welfare
and for cherishing and developing culture in rural areas.

Assorted arts, including combined arts, support religious
ceremonies and entertainment, as well as art shows for tourists,
and are now exhibited or performed in various places. All
performances run harmoniously and smoothly, and are capable of
making a positive impact on people's lives and development.

Ketut Mulada, one of many Balinese artists, is a pioneer in
fostering, developing, maintaining and promoting the arts as a
tourist attraction. The chairman of the management of Sekeha gong
Saraswati has the ability to create enthusiasm among youths and
grownups with tabuh and dances. Creativity in the realm of arts
develops and grows significantly, so no wonder the Sekeha gong
Saraswati, under his management since 1980, has received an order
to stage art shows in numerous places in Bali, especially at some
hotels in Buleleng Regency.

A stage show in Banyuwangi

The Balinese society, when holding the religious ceremony god
yadnya or pitra yadnya, feels dissatisfied if it is not
accompanied or cheered on by the traditional orchestra and local
arts show. The people in northern Bali generally request Sekeha
gong Saraswati to create a cheerful atmosphere if there is a
religious ceremony to be held by citizens. In addition, the
Sekeha gong Saraswati used to receive government requests to
brighten events, such as the anniversary of Singaraja or the
commemoration of other national days.

In 1996, Mulada, together with his Sekeha orchestra, took part
in the "Buleleng style Gong Kebyar" parade. He presented the
tabuh tua lelonggaran, teruna jaya dance, magrumbungan dance, and
various tabuh accompanying the kekawin (sacred Hindu religious
verses). Ketut Mulada, with his Sekeha gong Saraswati, was also
entrusted to take part in the 19th Bali Arts Festival (PKB) in
1997 as the representative of Buleleng Regency.

Mulada, who is also a craftsman of aluminum bowls, also used
to stage his shows in numerous places around Bali and other
places in Indonesia. In 1979, he and his orchestra performed a
part of the Ramayana in Banyuwangi, East Java, which was
accompanied by tabuh and new dances. Ever since then, requests
for staging shows have continually flowed in.

In his old age, he is still faithful to the art of tabuh and
dance, and remains the leader of the Sekeha gong Saraswati
orchestra in his birthplace, though now the majority of its
members are youngsters.