Tabanan, Rainbow over Ricefields

Sutiari
A Dance Instructor Who is Rarely at Home

Tunjuk Kaja sub district, Tabanan, is one of the art quarters in Bali. There are many traditional arts in this area, such as Leko dance art group (kind of joged), Wayang Wong (human puppet dance) dance-drama, and wayang kulit (leather puppet) group. The ancient arts performance that was routinely staged actually can motivate the youngster to learn the dance art, that’s why Tunjuk village is occupied by a lot of dancers and instrumentalists.

Ni Komang Sutiari is one of the dancers from this village. She was born in Tabanan, 20 January 1963 embraced with dance art starting from frequently watching dance performances in her village. Shyly, she learnt dancing at her village. For the first time, she learned the Panji Semirang dance, then Legong Kraton and Sendratari (dance fragment) Rajapala. Feeling happy, she finally continued her study at Kokar (now becomes SMK – Vocational High School – Negeri 3 Sukawati) and finished her last study at FKIP Singaraja Diploma 2 dance department.
After mastering various dances, and a certificate of education, Sutiari become a dance instructor in several dance studios. Not merely in Tabanan, but also in Denpasar, Badung and Singaraja. “I ‘m seldom at home, because I must give a dance lesson at the studio, and also at elementary and junior high school as well,” she explained.
Supplied with seriousness, in 1985 she became a teacher in junior high school in Kerambitan village, Tabanan. In 1996, she taught dancing and tembang (sung or recited Balinese poetry) art at SLTP Negeri 1. “After becoming a permanent teacher, I automatically stopped teaching in studios. Honestly, I can’t handle it, because I have less time, not including the activity mesuka-duka in banjar. I think that’s quite enough only teaching at school,” she said.
Besides being capable in gong kebyar instruments and gender, she is also skilled to perform geguntangan rhythm, which is an accompaniment of the arja dance-drama. With these marvelous skills, she is often entrusted to teach in a woman’s instrument group in other villages. For example, in 1990’s she was entrusted to teach a women’s instrument group of Batannyuh village, Marga district, when attending the gong kebyar festival with Bali Arts Festival at Denpasar Cultural Park. “It all just a memory. Now, I’m only a common teacher and housewife,” she modestly explaind.
Even as a memory, the wife of I Made Arnawa, S.Skar, M.Sn sneakily still is occupied in instrumental art. The evidence is in the end of year 2002 at her village, Tunjuk village; Tabanan , when along with other village woman association (PKK) composed a woman instrument group. The group that mostly consisted of farmer’s women was founded by I Nyoman Sumandi, the old pedalangan (the person who masters the puppet art) artist, and Sutari can be said as the instructor’s assistant.
The position is suitable for her, because she sometimes give a private training to members who don’t understand the lessons. After the lessons, all members then play the song/rhythm together. Recently, this group that doesn’t have a name yet, is already mastering several tabuh (song/rhythm), such as tabuh telu lelambatan buaya mangap, legong kraton, tabuh-tabuh bebarisan, selisir. Besides ngayah, (perform an art without expecting any payments) activity at temples, this woman sekaa gong (instrument group) often stages welcoming for the Bali Governor. “I only the instructor’s mouthpiece. I feel pity if no one could train us,” said this instrumentalist who often supports the scholar examination in STSI (now becoming ISI) Denpasar, with firm expression.
Beside dancing and playing instruments, she teaches the Sekaa Gong Sekar Jaya Amerika (1994 – 1995) also occupying in tembang (song) art and often echoing pupuh or gegruritan in holy places. With her seriousness, she joined with Sekaa Santi Marga Kanti SLTP Negeri 1 Marga mostly schoolteachers and staff. Even after a few months, this sekaa (group) is frequently ngayah.
Moreover, after forming in just a few months, sekaa santi is set for recording in Bali TV. They have also been invited by the Bali Provincial government in Serasehan series related with the 57th Puputan Margarana anniversary celebration to reverberate their melodious songs. “This tembang art is merely a side line. My whole day deals with naughty students, after singing these melodious ancient songs, I feel my tensions are going down,” she said.
(BTN/Budarsana)