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.