|
Kaoru
Nakaya
Staged a Legong -style Snow
Princess at ISI Denpasar
 Kaoru
Nakayama, a Japanese girl who is studying
at the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI)
Denpasar, has staged her composition of
a legong-style Snow Princess dance (Yukionna)
at Natya Mandala Hall. The dance combines
the movement of the Balinese Legong dance
with Japanese Ryuu Kyuu dance was performed
on Thursday (20/1) in relation to student’s
final examinations at ISI Denpasar.
According to Kaoru, the dance narrates the
life journey of two brothers, Mosaku and
Minokichi who were hunters in the forest.
Once upon a time, when it was hailing cats
and dogs, a ghost appeared at the resting
hut of Mosaku and Minokichi. The snow guest
killed Mosaku and let Minokichi live. Afterwards,
the ghost changed its appearance into a
beautiful girl (Snow Princess) and persuaded
Minokichi. Romantic drama arose between
Minokichi and the Snow Princess that came
to an end in marriage and children.
At the end of the storyline, a quarrel happened
between Minokichi, and the Snow Princess
left Minokichi and her children. This dance
was composed for three months and danced
by three dancers consisting of Kaoru Nakaya,
Yoko Arasidhani and Ni Ketut Suka Artini.
Its musical accompaniment was performed
by Kadek Suardana, vocals by Ni Nyoman Nik
Suasti, costumes by designer Tjokorda Gede
Abinanda Sukawati (Tjok Abi) and make up
by Tjokorda Istri Putri Rukmini.
Kaoru Nakaya, who prefers to be called Putu
Kaoru, admitted that the idea of her dance
commenced from her love of Legong since
her adolescence (1970s). “Then, I watched
Legong in Japan and was spontaneously interested
in its dynamic and complicated movements,”
said the girl who was born in Edogawa, Tokyo
while adding that as soon as she graduated
in Japan she left for Bali to learn formally
at ISI Denpasar.
Putu Kaoru, the eldest daughter of three
sisters of the couple Takuro Nakaya and
Toshiko Nakaya, revealed that she found
no difficulties in learning Balinese dance.
Probably due to her cultural background
in Japan and Bali which is nearly the same,
so she could adapt. “I do not only
learn about the movements of the dance,
but also its function and significance for
the Balinese,” she stated firmly.
If one day she graduates from ISI Denpasar,
she is going to deeply involve herself in
Balinese art and is determined to preserve
Balinese art and culture. And, she assuredly
participates in promoting this dance as
a tourism power of attraction, chiefly to
Japanese visitors. “If ISI opens a
Magister Program (postgraduate) on the art
of dance, I am going to take it, too,”
she said. Are you getting married soon,
Kaoru? She was asked, she replied, “Later
on, but now I am looking for a boyfriend,”
she said with a smile. (BTN/Sumadi)
|
