Denpasar, In the City

Denpasar’s Representative in PKB XXV

Gambuh is the oldest dance drama in Bali that dates back to about XIV-XV Century. Gambuh dance dramas often tell the story of malat (Panji) experienced in the golden era in the age of Balinese Kingdoms, when the king always staged Gambuh at each special feast for guests to the kingdom. For their love of Gambuh arts, purportedly, the Balinese kings specially built Saren Pegambuhan (Pegambuhan Hall). In the 1950’s, Gambuh was also often performed, but it was only as part of religious ceremonies (yadnya activities especially the Dewa Yadnya ceremony).

The Balinese artisans consider Gambuh and the instrument tabuh, to be pioneers in Bali. They also believe Gambuh is ‘the mother of Balinese dance’. Now, Gambuh dance-drama is one of the rare, interesting, ancient arts. Maybe because of its complicated movement and the difficulties in playing its music instrument, people are more interested in learning new dances of the modern era.
The Maha Gita Foundation, Banjar Gelogor, Denpasar, under the coordination of I Ketut Sumarya, is pioneering sekaa Gambuh that contains talented young dancers. This foundation has added two other sekaa Gambuh that still exist; sekaa Gambuh of Pedungan Village, south Denpasar and sekaa Gambuh of Batuan Village, Gianyar.
Ketut Sumarya says that his team wants to accomplish the Gambuh dance performance with the following situation. By performing the improvised style in Gambuh arts, certainly it will attract the attention of younger people. ‘I was trying to fill it with the Gong Semaragulingan so it will easy to learn. Remember, this type of gong is owned by each banjar in Bali,’ he said while adding that the instrument players (penabuh) were able to perform difficult Gambuh songs (gending) with this kind of gong. Through the new form of Gambuh, it is hoped that youngsters accept Gambuh arts as accepting the Balinese art in general. What and how this sekaa will perform this Gambuh ‘Anyar’ (newest form), wait and see their performance on 24th of June at Taman Budaya, Denpasar. This sekaa will stage for 1 month during the PKB XXV.
This former bank employee who graduated from the Economy Faculty of Udayana University Denpasar said that in the next performance he will put on a totally different Gambuh show. He will fight in performing the Gambuh “Anyar” to entertain the audience. Through gamelan Semaragulingan instruments, he will present the punakawan figures that entertain the audience with many jokes without reducing the serious meaning and point of the Gambuh itself. ‘It means that Gambuh shows that a serious form of art could have a fresh and relaxing approach. So, audiences will be more interested in it again. This creation is as a chance for professional artists to think over the existence of Gambuh dance.
It said that the dancers who will support Gambuh “Anyar” are the young dancers graduated from STSI Denpasar. Moreover, the husband of Dra. Ni Putu Martini Dewi, M.Si, also invited the new dancers of his foundation, such as “kakan-kakan” dance presented by the girls who learn in the Maha Gita Foundation. In total, Gambuh “Anyar” is supported by 10 male dancers and 6 female dancers as well as 25 penabuh (instrument players). ‘Before performing in PKB, we had ngayah (charity concert) in Satria Temple, Denpasar, on 28th of May to accompany the STSI student who are facing the Gambuh dance examination,’ said Sumarya who confesses to have training each Wednesday and Friday night.
Next 24th June , sekaa Gambuh that was founded last June 2001 will present the theme story ‘Kasunduk I Dalang Anteban’ (the death of I Dalang Anteban). This story tells about the Gegelang Kingdom. The king was very concerned about preserving culture and wished all society’s castes like Brahmana, Ksatria, Wesya, and Sudra, even his own daughter named Ratnaningrat, would participate in realizing this by learning how to dance and play gong instruments (menabuh).
Ratnaningrat was taught by the artist Panji Ralat Rasmin, but after the learning process, suddenly, the arrogant Raden Prebangsa arrived and wanted to teach the princess. Princess Ratnaningrat refused to be taught by him and this made Raden Prebangsa very angry and leave Pegambuhan Hall.
After Raden Prebangsa left the hall, he saw Raden Panji’s man sitting on a horse under a Banyan tree. He couldn’t control his anger, so Raden Prebangsa went wild and released his anger on Raden Panji’s horse. Without mercy, he stabbed the horse, named I Dalang Anteban, to death with a keris (double-bladed dagger). Raden Panji’s servant then reported the tragedy to his lord. With great anger, Raden Panji chased Raden Prebangsa. Finally, they fought and Raden Prebangsa was defeated and ran away to save his life. (BTN/015)