Wantilan: From Cockfight Arena to Art Performance Stage
Pagoda-like, multi-tiered Meru is surely the pinnacle of Balinese architecture, the prima ballerina of temple courtyard. But it is not the biggest structure which is produced by the Balinese. When it comes to size, wantilan or arena for cockfighting is a king pin. Wantilan can be found almost in every village all over the island, each village usually has its own wantilan near the village center; a big temple usually has its own wantilan. The vast number of wantilan exists in the island is a reminder of the popularity of the cockfighting in the bygone days.
The Wantilan is an open all-side structure covered by two or three roofs in pagoda like arrangement. The Wantilan consists of a large square that contains one two smaller square on whose angle the round uprights supporting the roof stand. The small square in the middle of wantilan serves as cockfight arena, this arena is the most important part of the wantilan.
In 1981, the government banned cockfighting and other forms of gambling, the big cockfighting in public place such as Wantilan is illegal. Wantilan lost its function as cockfight arena. This phenomenon brought a great change to the structure of the Wantilan; the new wantilans which are built after 1981 are no longer square in shape rectangular. The square which serves as cockfight arena in the middle of the wantilan is replaced by a raised floor on one end of the Wantilan which is serves as a stage for art performance.
The function of the Wantilan, nowadays, is no longer a big cockfight arena but rather a big stage for art performances. The high demand on art and cultural performance from tourism industry in early 1980s speed up the conversion of cockfight arena to the art performance stage. Only few Wantilan in big temples retain their original structure and function.
Bookmark this at
- Games of Chance
- The Lively Kebyar Dance
- The Adventure of Clifford and Hildred Geertz
- Magecel: A Unique Balinese Pastime
- Behind a Cockfighting
- The Sharpest and Deadliest Weapon in Bali
- Tajen Pura Hyang Api (Cockfighting of Hyang Api Temple)
- Tajen Cockfighting Today
- Modern Baris
- Jauk and Telek Dance
- Inspired by Birds
- Representative Shrine: Replica of Mountain and Lake
- Frog Dance
- Art of Bali
- Cak!
- The Last Day of Classical Dance and Drama Performance
- The Second Day of Classical Dance and Drama Performance
- A Balinese Folktale: The Origin of Balinese Dance
- The History of Wayang Wong
- Prembon: Balinese Hybrid Drama Performance
- Balinese Contemporary Dance
- Topeng Pajegan: The Most Demanding Mask Performance
- From Sacred to Profane: Barong and Rangda Dance
- A Balinese Folktale: Smarandhana
- Meru: Magnum Opus of Balinese Shrine
- Balinese Drama: In Front and Behind The Scene
- Balinese Traditional Architecture + Modern Building =?
- Balinese Dance, Drama, and Music
- Drama Gong: The Most Popular Theatrical Performance
- Batukaru Temple
- Tabuh Rah: Blood Sacrifice
- On "Balinese are truly communal people"
- Banjar: Balinese People’s Republic
- Çudamani Bali Summer Institute July 2007
- When Death Comes
- Pura Taman Ayun (Taman Ayun Temple)
- Sanghyang Dance (The Dance of Spirits)
- Bali Annual Events 2006
- Ajeg Bali, the struggle for renewal
- Balinese Cockfighting Tajen
- Kecak
- Contemporary World Dance Came to Ubud
- Uluwatu Temple
- The 28th Annual Bali Arts Festival 2006
- Semar Pegulingan Course in London
- Barong
- Rangda
- Bali SummerSchool: Deadline Extended Until June 1
- Pura Petilan Kesiman
- 'Sitarasmi': A dancer's journey to personal maturity
- Jauk Dance
- Tari Topeng Telek
- Holy Cross Balinese Gamelan Orchestra to Hold Spring Concert
- An Evening of Contemporary Dance in Bali
- Balinese Arts, from Homage to Performance
- Legong Bapang Saba
- Gamelan Sekar Jaya upcoming concerts in San Fransisco Bay Area
- Legong Saba Style
- The Grace and Power of Balinese Dance and Drama
- Meru
- Wayang : Balinese shadow puppets
Loading ...