By Agnes Winarti
Photo by Anggara Mahendra
Published in Bali Daily/The Jakarta Post, Wednesday, February 06 2013
Acrobatic: Young performers of Dharmayana Temple troupe rehearse an acrobatic maneuver for their barongsai dance. BD/Anggara Mahendra
Bali’s world famous tourism district of Kuta is mainly known for its frenzied nightlife, but that is not the only thing it offers.
Kuta’s Vihara Dharmayana dance group has ensured that the barongsai (lion) and liong (dragon) dances remain alive and kicking, preserving the ancient Chinese traditions while firmly instilling positive values in the neighborhood’s young ethnic Chinese.
“You have to be highly self-motivated to be able to keep performing barongsai and liong. It requires a lot of discipline, hard work and courage. Once you are serious about practicing it, you won’t have the time or energy to do other stuff, especially staying up all night partying,” said performer and coach Andre Wijaya.
The 27-year-old is part of the second generation of a barongsai and liong group, Pusaka Tantra. The group is from the young community of Sekaha Teruna Teruni Eka Dharma, of Vihara Dharmayana Kuta, located in banjar (hamlet) Dharma Semadhi.
Since high school, the graduate of Bali Tourism Institute STP Nusa Dua fell in love with the barongsai dance for its similarities with the basic movements of Chinese martial arts such as wushu, Shaolin kung fu and tai chi.
“At first, I never imagined that movements in kung fu films could be performed in real life, but when I started practicing barongsai, I realized it was possible,” said Andre, who idolized Chinese martial artist Yip Man and movie actor Jet Li.
“Being a member of this barongsai group has brought us profound benefits. We get to win many championships, travel to other cities and abroad, and bring Bali’s name to many prestigious barongsai competitions,” said Andre. He was the winner at the 2009 Mayor Cup barongsai competition in Surabaya, East Java.
Andre acknowledged that his love for the performing arts had motivated him to continue returning to the group to share his experiences and skills with his juniors. “Because of my age, it’s not possible to compete in the barongsai world championships, but I hope one of these kids gets there one day,” he said.
That hope does not appear to go unfounded. Since it was created in 2002, Pusaka Tantra has won trophies in competitions in Semarang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, with the latest national achievement of coming first in the junior traditional category at the National Open Championship of the barongsai and liong dances in Tuban, East Java. For their achievements, some of the members, including Andre, attended a summer camp in Guangzhou,
China.
The three-generation barongsai group has now around 40 members from the tender age of 8 to 17. They train twice a week, but for competitions and special ceremonies, the group intensifies its preparations.
“Usually, we let the youngest kids start by playing the tambur [traditional drum]. If they show enthusiasm and talent, we’ll then coach them in barongsai or liong movements,” said Adhi Dharmaja, 48, the group’s coordinator, who is also the father of one of the junior barongsai performers.
The barongsai group has also performed in many special ceremonies, not only during Chinese New Year celebrations and weddings, but also at Balinese Hindu temples like the Ngusabha Pura Batur and at Kuta Karnival events.
“This group has shown a profound acculturation between our Chinese community and the rest of the Balinese people,” Adhi said.
Pusaka Tantra will parade around and present prayers and offerings at every intersection of Kuta district on the evening before Chinese New Year, known locally as Imlek, which falls on Feb. 10. Meanwhile, during Imlek at 7 p.m., the group will host a performance inside the Vihara Dharmayana compound.
Kuta’s Vihara Dharmayana dance group has ensured that the barongsai (lion) and liong (dragon) dances remain alive and kicking, preserving the ancient Chinese traditions while firmly instilling positive values in the neighborhood’s young ethnic Chinese.
“You have to be highly self-motivated to be able to keep performing barongsai and liong. It requires a lot of discipline, hard work and courage. Once you are serious about practicing it, you won’t have the time or energy to do other stuff, especially staying up all night partying,” said performer and coach Andre Wijaya.
The 27-year-old is part of the second generation of a barongsai and liong group, Pusaka Tantra. The group is from the young community of Sekaha Teruna Teruni Eka Dharma, of Vihara Dharmayana Kuta, located in banjar (hamlet) Dharma Semadhi.
Since high school, the graduate of Bali Tourism Institute STP Nusa Dua fell in love with the barongsai dance for its similarities with the basic movements of Chinese martial arts such as wushu, Shaolin kung fu and tai chi.
“At first, I never imagined that movements in kung fu films could be performed in real life, but when I started practicing barongsai, I realized it was possible,” said Andre, who idolized Chinese martial artist Yip Man and movie actor Jet Li.
“Being a member of this barongsai group has brought us profound benefits. We get to win many championships, travel to other cities and abroad, and bring Bali’s name to many prestigious barongsai competitions,” said Andre. He was the winner at the 2009 Mayor Cup barongsai competition in Surabaya, East Java.
Andre acknowledged that his love for the performing arts had motivated him to continue returning to the group to share his experiences and skills with his juniors. “Because of my age, it’s not possible to compete in the barongsai world championships, but I hope one of these kids gets there one day,” he said.
That hope does not appear to go unfounded. Since it was created in 2002, Pusaka Tantra has won trophies in competitions in Semarang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, with the latest national achievement of coming first in the junior traditional category at the National Open Championship of the barongsai and liong dances in Tuban, East Java. For their achievements, some of the members, including Andre, attended a summer camp in Guangzhou,
China.
The three-generation barongsai group has now around 40 members from the tender age of 8 to 17. They train twice a week, but for competitions and special ceremonies, the group intensifies its preparations.
“Usually, we let the youngest kids start by playing the tambur [traditional drum]. If they show enthusiasm and talent, we’ll then coach them in barongsai or liong movements,” said Adhi Dharmaja, 48, the group’s coordinator, who is also the father of one of the junior barongsai performers.
The barongsai group has also performed in many special ceremonies, not only during Chinese New Year celebrations and weddings, but also at Balinese Hindu temples like the Ngusabha Pura Batur and at Kuta Karnival events.
“This group has shown a profound acculturation between our Chinese community and the rest of the Balinese people,” Adhi said.
Pusaka Tantra will parade around and present prayers and offerings at every intersection of Kuta district on the evening before Chinese New Year, known locally as Imlek, which falls on Feb. 10. Meanwhile, during Imlek at 7 p.m., the group will host a performance inside the Vihara Dharmayana compound.
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