Getting Interested in Jegog, a Foreign Tourist Joins to Dance

0
inShare

When Jegog music, a typical traditional gamelan of Jembrana, was played at the Bali Arts Festival (BAF) XXXVI, visitors immediately went to the Ayodya Stage. Just within a few minutes, the stage located in the northeast of the Art Center was instantly fully occupied. More interestingly, foreign travelers sitting on the front row were ready with cameras and camcorders.
It was the turn of Metu Swara Jegog Troupe from Banyu Biru village and Swara Sandhi Jegog Troupe from Perancak village, Negara subdistrict (Jembrana) to make performance on Saturday (Jul 5). The gamelan composition played by natural artists sounded melodious. The tones overlapped and gave cheerfulness as if it invited the audience to rejoice.
Initially, they presented classical gamelan music and Bangun Jembrana creation that purely introduced the beautiful sound of the Jegog gamelan instrument. Later, the collaboration with the artists of dancer indicated if the gamelan estimated to have existed since 1912 was really interesting to be used as dance accompaniment. The dances presented looked innovative in terms of the dance movement or fashion.
This kind of Joged dance received the most response from the audience. It was almost the same as the Joged Bumbung dance involving the audience as pengibing or co-dancer. Its movement was very simple, so that they could be explored by the audience. It was amusing but did not leave the basic norms of Balinese dance. Virtually there was no impression of porn action, so the dancers could draw co-dancer endlessly.
Amidst the thundering sound of the gamelan, a foreign visitor looked to get interested. He was not content just to hear the songs alone. Therefore, he got up and shook hands with the dancer. With a smile, the foreign traveler imitated the movement of the dancer. He seemed so happy while moving his hands, fingers to the body. Besides, his legs also stamped and crossed while sometimes also pivoted.

His movement often followed the rhythm of Jegog that sometimes was strong and weak. Every now and then, he showed off disco-style movement as in his country. As long as the foreign traveler was dancing, he was constantly applauded by the audience. Meanwhile, his companion was busy immortalizing his performance by camcorder.
Jegog gamelan music supposedly created by an artist named Kiyang Geliduh from Sebuah hamlet, Dangin Tukad Aya village, was staged almost every year in the BAF. The gamelan players used two sticks in the play. Other than having larger size, the way to play the gamelan was standing up while beating the bamboo blades of the gamelan.
Especially for the jegog instrument, the gamelan players beat the instrument while squatting and perching on back gamelan frame. (BTN/015)

 http://www.bali-travelnews.com