The second day of Classical Dance and Drama Performances (28/9/2007) was full to rim with various rare performances, from primitive and mystic Sanghyang Memedi trance dance to highly refined Legong Sudarsana, from grotesque and weird Baris Jangkang to elegant Rejang Renteng. Except for Legong Sudarsana, all these dances are extremely rare and can only be seen in special religious occasions.

The first performance was Sanghyang Memedi trance dance from Buleleng regency. This rare performance is only performed when a serious threat of plague strikes a village, this trance dance functions to ward off both the plague and evil spirits. The performance began in complete darkness, all light was out. A group of men sit cross-legged, sang a merry Sanghyang Song to invite the Memedi (supernatural beings which are well known for their playfulness) to enter the bodies of the mediums. No musical instrument accompanied the first song. After the first song was finished, the dancers sit cross-legged face to face in the center of the stage, a brazier was put between them. The chorus sang another Sanghyang song accompanied by musical instruments which were made of bamboo such as flute and tek-tekan (an instrument which consists of two bamboo sticks, hold in each hand).

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The Balinese dance and musical performances on the fourth day of Mengenang Sang Guru: A Tribute to Anak Agung Gde Mandera and Gusti Made Sengog, Wednesday, 8/29/07 were definitely a beauty in diversity. Dancers and musician from different ages range from 67 to 20 years old, various ethnicities, and religions gave their best performance to honor the great teachers Anak Agung Gde Mandera (affectionately called ‘Gungkak’) and Gusti Made Sengog (affectionately called ‘Niang Sengog’).

Legong Kuntul Putih dance

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Guruh Sukarno Putra, dancer and choreographer expressed his fear on the extinction of some legong style in a press release of Mengenang Sang Guru Dance Performance on Thursday, 8/23/07, in Peliatan Ubud. The son of the first President of Indonesia said that there were dozens of legong style exist in late 1960s and early 1970s, but only few manage to survive until the present time; “a red light for Legong” he added.

Left to right: Guruh Sukarno Putra, Bulantrisna Djelantik, AA Oka Dalem

There is a bitter fact in his word, many legong styles such as Legong Taro, Legong Menjali of North Bali, Legong Bedulu, Legong Badung are in the edge of extinction since there is no regeneration process going on for these legong styles. As a matter of fact each legong style has their own characteristic of beauty for example the Legong Peliatan has a characteristic of rapid trembling movements and extremely bend-to-the-front body posture. It will a great lost for Balinese dance if these rare style vanish permanently from the island.

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At the end of nineteenth century, the king of Badung had assembled a truly superior group of dancers to perform at court. Some of the artistes were of brahmana caste, while others were commoners. Ida Bagus Boda, who was to later conceive the modern choreography for the condong (lady in waiting) in Legong, was leader of the group. Since there were five dancers who were all expert performer of Topeng (mask perfoermance), Ida Bagus Boda was inspired to devise a performance in which the entire group could take a part. He called it Topeng Panca (Five-man Mask performance).

Topeng Panca performance on Bali Arts Festival 2006

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Dear All,

In August and September there will be a Legong Festival and Tribute to Anak Agung Gede Mandera and Ni Gusti Biang Sengog and other teachers and their students. This is the outline of the program details will be forthcoming on this list.

Thanks,

Rucina

26 August, opening
Photo - Film exhibit, booklet launch, Reunion of dancers by going to Pura Gunung Sari together;

26 - 27 August evening
Two gamelans bebarungan every night with different dances by different generations of Peliatan Legong musicians and dancers at Balerung;

28 August
Guruhs Sukarnoputra¹s Legong and modern dances -

29 August
Gung Bagus¹s Kebyar, Gung Oka Dalem’s Janger and Gung Ayu Trisna Bulan group’s new Legong (Mintaraga), at Puri Agung Peliatan

End September
Tribute for Gung Kak Mandera, Niyang Sengog and other late Peliatan gamelan teachers ( to the families) and Sekeha Gong Wanita .

The classical legong is first mentioned in the lontar (palm leave manuscript), which deals with King Dewa Agung Jambe from Gel-Gel. This King has three sons, the first was named Sri Aji Wirya Sirikan, who lived in the palace at Klungkung; the second son was Sri Aji Madya Wirya, who lived in the palace of Sukawati in the House of Grogak. The third son Sri Urujawirya lived at Gel-Gel.

flickr.com/photos/edfladung/

The lontar tells further that Sri Aji Madya Wirya had three sons. The first was Cokorda Jambe, who lived in the Palace at Guang near Sukawati, the second was Cokorda Made Karna and the third son, who lived at Sukawati, was called Cokorda Gde Agung.

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