A Living Art FormBALINESE DANCE HISTORY

• Paleolithic and Mesolithic occupation / Homo Erectus aka Java Man• 300-600 BCE: Neolithic: Austronesian Migrations / Rice = Villages• 600 BCE-800CE: Bronze Age: arrival of Dong Son / Gamelan• 800-1342CE: Indianized Kingdoms / Hinduism, Wayang, Topeng• 1343-1846: Majapahit Dynasty “Golden Age / Gambuh• 1846-1906 Dutch Invasions / Suicidal Puputan (4,000 Balinese Died)• 1906-1942 Bali become part of the “Dutch East Indies”• 1942 Second World War / Japan• Indonesian Independence Day August 17th, 1945• 1945 – Present: Indonesian Republic “Unity in Diversity”• 1970s Tourism Boom / 2002 Bali Bombings in Kuta / 2005 Bali

Bombings• 2010 “The Hollywood Effect”/ Eat Pray Love

BALI TIMELINE

BALI AGA BERUTUK DANCE

WAYANG / SHADOW PUPPETS

TOPENGMASK DANCES

Majapahit Empire 1343 – early 16th C (around 1520)• Gambuh is over 400 years old• Hindu Majapahit rulers & courts valued and

patronized the arts• The stories preserve the manners & ideals of

Javanese/Balinese court life• There are tales of kings and members of their

family taking part in dance performances, music, and shadow-puppet plays

• Professional artists including dancers were attached to palace households

• The Oldest & most formal Dance-Drama form on Bali

MAJAPAHIT EMPIREGAMBUH PERFORMANCES

Economic & Political power in Java moved to Islam in the Early 16th C• The last Majapahit courtiers moved in masse to cousin

palaces in Bali• This Hindu-Javanese Civilization developed without

disturbance until the Dutch Conquest of the island (1906-1908)

• Gambuh stayed relatively pure, but was “Balinized” a bit...

MAJAPAHIT SHIFT TO BALI

Gambuh brought to Bali...• Narrative (Indigenous Balinese (pre-Hindu) dances

consisted of simple line and circle formations)• Dramatic Structure• Dancer-Actors (including comedic talent)• Some characters still speak Old Javanese which is

translated by clown-like characters called pensar into colloquial Balinese

• Sophisticated Musical Relationship between dancers & orchestra

HOMOGENIZTION

• Balinese Costumes were adopted• Indigenous Dance Movements added ie. eye-flicking • “Court Dramas” opened up to Public Audiences as

they became associated with the Hindu-Balinese Calendar of Public Religious Festivals

• Temple as Performance Space (semi-sacred) / 2nd or middle courtyard

• Performers: Banjar (village association) members v.s. palace artists from Majapahit courts• The stage is carefully aligned with the ritually

significant Kaja & Kelod (Mountain & Sea)• Blessing of performance space prior to its

presentation

BALINIZATION

TEMPLE CEREMONIES• Major temple festival• Day or Night• Lasts several days• Same group performs daily (traditionally was all male

actors/dancers)• Performance length is about 6 hoursSPECTATORS• A spectacle for the gods • Humans hang out: watch favorite scenes, nap, grab a snack, chit-

chat, etc.SURVIVAL & TOURISTS• Excerpts performed for tourists: Legong, Barong, Kebyar• ISI Denpasar Curriculum• Bali Art Festival, Art Centre, Denpasar

BALINESE GAMBUH TODAY

JEGOG MUSIC & DANCE

JEGOG SUAR AGUNGMEKEPUNG

MEKEPUNG

• 1912 Jegog created by Kiyang Geliduh• Created xylophone like timber bamboo instruments• Pak Genjor• Instrumental only. Performances would last from 8pm-3am• Ni Suprig (woman)• Added Martial Arts Performance (Penack Silak) to the music• I Nyoman Jayus• Added Gong Kebyar dances like Pendet, Belibis, Gopala, and Joged

to the Jegog performances• I Ketut Suwentra (Pekak Jegog)• Created original choreography inspired by the Mekepung Buffalo

Races • Collaborations w/ non-Balinese Artists i.e. Kodo (Taiko), Show Seki

& Chakra Dance Company of Japan

GAMELAN JEGOG