Tabanan, Rainbow over Ricefields

Tabanan Prepares for Bali Arts Festival

Tabanan Regency, 21km to the west of Denpasar, will follow all the events to be put on by the committee of the Bali Arts Festival XXV 2003. From the opening parade of PKB (Bali Arts Festival), the Tabanan artists will set out to perform in the competition arena and other arts performances. In the Opening Parade, Tabanan will perform arts and traditional customs specific to the area. The arts competition has a Floral and Janur (young coconut leaf) arrangement competition, a Balinese Song competition for children, a Traditional Food competition, Nyastra competition, Children’s Fashion competition, Adults’ Fashion competition, Gong Kebyar for children competition, and Adult Gong Kebyar competition.

Of the above competitions, the gong kebyar competition, whether for adults or children, is welcomed merrily. For this esteemed competition, Tabanan Regency has united Sekaa Gong SLTP 2 for the children’s gong kebyar group and Kembang Bali Studio, and Tunjuk Village as the representative for the adults’ gong kebyar.
At the event, Tabanan, rich in young talented artists, will perform many arts. They have been seriously preparing for months - not just the stage materials, but also mental preparation to unite the artists, considering that not all the hundreds of performers ever make it to the Bali Arts Festival.
One of the performances is Prembon. Prembon is a procession that applies pertopengan (mask) arts and Arja (opera) dance-drama. This combination can be seen from the script and the dancers’ characters that use Balinese song rhythms. The male dancer in prembon wears the mask dance costume and the female dancer wears the Arja costume. Some dancers wear a tapel (mask) while others rely on face make up, as in the Arja dance. Prembon is accompanied by Gamelan gong kebyar that adopts the babad (chronicle) story and it is usually supported by 6 dancers. All of Tabanan’s Prembon artists come from Wanasari Village.
Even though they have performed a few times in PKB, Sekaa Wayang Cenk Blonk from Blayu, Marga, are entertaining visitors again this year. Wayang Cenk Blonk is the Wayang Kulit (leather puppet) backed by tens of penabuh (instrumental players) and gerong/sinden (singers). The story is usually about the Ramayana Epoch, while the Ceng Blonk was taken from the name of two punakawan (royal servants) who have funny faces and behavior. This Wayang Kulit is performed by dalang (puppet master) I Wayan Nardayana.
To preserve its rare arts, Tabanan Regency will stage dances supported by Sekaa Gong Dharma Kanti from Bantiran Village, Pupuan, and Tabanan. Sekaa Gong Banjar Tibu Biyu Kaja, Kerambitan, will perform not only dances, but also play many kinds of previous taboo (instrument). This Sekaa Gong will stage the ancient Lelambatan of tabuh, for which the rhythm has almost disappeared.
Tabanan also will stage a traditional children’s game found at the near-mountain village of Banjar Tegeh, Angsri Village, Baturiti Sub-District. Bhuana Sari Nadi Studio, Banjar Tegeh, will perform the Mapoh-pohan game that involves many children. This game, directed by I Wayan Weda, uses a tingklik (a traditional musical instrument made from bamboo) musical arrangement and lasts 30 minutes. This village will also perform the interaction dance, called Joged Bumbung.
Okokan is traditional music equipment, which is consists of an okokan stick made from wood, kulkul (bamboo drum), kendang (two-sided drum), cengceng (cymbal), kempol, and gong. Okokan art is one of the traditional characteristics of Tabanan’s arts and has a beautiful, soft, and trembling quality. The Sekaa Okokan that will be staged is Sekaa Okokan Baturiti, Kerambitan with 40-60 personnel.
They will also perform Tektekan art. Tektekan is an art where the instruments are made from the joints of bamboo. This kind of musical instrument is like a small kulkul that is played with the kotekan system of trembling and hitting. The Balinese believe that this instrument prevents disease in plants. When diseases attack the rice plants, the local farmers usually play the Tektekan, followed by the Calonarang dance-drama. The Sekaa Tektekan that will perform is Sekaa Tektekan of Kukuh Village, Kerambitan.
The Arja dance-drama is the equivalent to a western opera, where each player has to be able to both in sing and hold a dialogue, as both skills feature in the Arja performance, as well as acting and dancing. This art, which dates back to the 18th Century (1775-1825), usually presents the Panji story. But, the Arja that will be performed by Sekaa Arja from Penebel Village, Tabanan, is Arja Cupak, which uses the Balinese story of Cupak.
Tabanan Regency also performs a classical dance called Andir. Andir, which is the pioneer of Legong Keraton dance, has developed into a sacred dance that is staged in religious ceremonies especially the Sang Hyang dance. In performing this kind of dance, the dancer is usually kerawuhan (possessed). At this year’s PKB, they will stage the Andir dance from Banjar Singin, Selemadeg, Tabanan.
Finally, the artist I Gusti Raka Suyadnya, Banjar Tengah painter, Marga, will also get an apprecia-tion. (BTN/015)