Bali Nights in Paris

I Wayan Plong Widiana performing the Baris warrior dance

Sounds of nature greet the audience upon entering the Théâtre National de Chaillot. A flickering flame is placed on stage, then the lights dimmed and silence reigned. Musicians slowly walked towards the gamelan instruments. The rhythmic quick and slow pace of percussion and drums of the Gong Kebyar composed by the late Wayan Susila beautifully broke the silence reverberating intensively and I was drifted into the island. It was in 1931 when the Antonin Artaud the French playwright and Theater director discovered the world of Balinese culture when they first performed in Paris during the World Exhibition. Performed by dancers and musicians from Sebatu, Singapadu and Kedisan “La Nuit Balinaise” (Bali Nights) pays homage to this artist poet, while unfolding the rich and diversity of Balinese ancestral art. A 3 hours of 3 acts representing classical dance drama choreographed by reputed Balinese artists from the early twentieth century. The show opens up with solo dancers revealing the classic Legong Kraton (court dance) followed by the impressive difficult and exhaustive Kebyar Duduk (sitting dance) created by Mario in the 1920′s, performed by the talented Komang who also played the role of Princess Galuh in Gambuh dance drama. The show continues to reveal another classic dance Taruna Jaya choreographed by Gde Manik in the 1920′s. The Telek and Jauk mask dance come with a procession of female dancers wearing white masks followed by male dancers which climaxed into the struggle between good and evil. The popular evil figure is represented in the form of Rangda the demon. The Baris warrior dance is another classical dance ritually shown in temple ceremonies, performed by I Wayan Plong Widiana from Singapadu. Dance drama continued with the play of wayang wong taken from the epic story of Ramayana which followed with Bali’s most unique tjak dance. It was in the 1930′s that the late Wayan Limbak (1897-2003 died at the age of 106) worked with the German artist Walter Spies to recreate and popularized the Kecak dance as we know today. The show ends with the traditional rarely seen Gambuh dance drama an influence from the sixteenth century Javanese Majapahit kingdom adopted by the Balinese. Long bamboo flutes unique to Gambuh accompany the actors dancers playing scenes taken from the Javanese and Balinese historic repertoire. Balinese dances came for the first time in Paris during the World Exhibition and returns today in its nostalgic environment when Parisian first discovered exotic dances from far away lands. “La Nuit Balinaise” shown in the art deco style of Palais de Chaillot in Trocadero built for the World Exhibition of 1937, integrated perfectly in the historic context of its first discovery by Parisians, and is certainly not to be missed. The Bali dance show goes on till September 29 …

Komang Wira Adi Saskara performing Kebyar Duduk

Here is a short clip of the Balinese show …

One Comment on “Bali Nights in Paris”

1. Pingback: Traditional Kecak Dance « CULTURAL ESCAPADES

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