Traditional dancer I Gusti Ayu Raka Rasmi still remembers when she struggled to learn Balinese traditional dancing. Born in Peliatan, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, in 1939, Rasmi was introduced to traditional dancing from the early age of nine. “I was among the youngest dancers back then,” she recalled.

From I Ketut Marya, who was later known as Mario, the choreographer of the famous Oleg Tamulilingan traditional dance, Rasmi learned the basics of traditional Balinese and Oleg dance movements. Despite the international acknowledgement the Oleg Tamulilingan dance later brought her, Rasmi remains a down-to-earth person.

She has never failed in her obligations as a member of the Balinese traditional banjar (neighborhood organization) and desa pekraman (customary village) by regularly participating in events, such as performing sacred dances during religious ceremonies. The events are not a chore, she said, shaking her head. It is part of her Ngayah (voluntary work) and money is never the goal, she said.

“In 1953 I was trembling in cold weather while waiting for my turn to perform a sacred dance in a temple located on the slope of Agung Mountain. “But once the performance started, the cold disappeared, replaced with a warm sensation from seeing dozens of eyes looking at me with pride. It was worth the effort.” What stayed in her mind was that the performance was a response to villagers’ eager request to see Rasmi perform in their village.

Rasmi back then had just arrived home from a government-led cultural mission tour in Europe and the United States along with traditional dancing groups from other regions of Indonesia. “The villagers sent a letter to me asking me to perform the sacred dance there. I was very touched by their request,” she said.

In her heyday, Rasmi danced more than five times on Saturday and Sunday and three times a day on regular days. To this day Rasmi still dances — but only on special occasions. She spends most of her time training children to dance in the Arma museum in Ubud.

Rasmi has lived her life under the spotlight, unlike artist I Dewa Gede Negara, now 79, a Bangli-born traditional percussionist.

Negara was once acknowledged as one of the best percussionists in the region, but playing his music instrument, known as gender in the local language, was his Ngayah to his community. His talent never generated enough money to pay the bills. “More than 10 years ago, they paid me Rp 150,000 per week for a two-part show and that was the most money I could get from playing percussion in a group,” Negara, who quit playing percussion years ago, said.

Negara lives with his 11 children from his two marriages, and to meet their daily needs, he relies on his monthly Rp 700,000 pension as a veteran of Indonesia’s war of independence. The lack of fame was not a problem for Negara, who said he had never regretted his choice of profession. “To play well and just knowing that people might enjoy it is enough for me, the rest is just a bonus,” he said.

Both Rasmi and Negara are among nine Bali veteran artists recognized as the island’s artistic icons by the Bali Cultural Agency last Monday. Head of Bali Cultural Agency I Nyoman Nikanaya said the event was a a gesture by the government to show respect to all artists. Percussionists I Gusti Putu Gde Wedasmara and I Gde Deresta, traditional dancer Ni Wayan Kerthi, traditional poet Gede Karsa, puppeteers I Nyoman Swiji and I Ketut Wesen and traditional performance actor Wayan Tembau Kariasa were also noted as Bali icons.

Each artist received a lifetime achievement trophy, health insurance, a set of traditional attire and Rp 2,500,000 in cash during a presentation organized as part of the Bali Art Festival, which runs until July 12. Phone company Esia also gave the recipients Rp 5 million and a wireless fixed telephone set. The company has also published an autobiographic collection about all the artists.

Written by Dicky Christanto
Published on The Jakarta Post – thejakartapost.com

Barely three weeks after news of their wedding plans leaked, long-time Hong Kong showbiz couple Carina Lau Ka Ling and Tony Leung Chiu Wai are now said to be tying the knot even earlier. Earlier reports stated that the couple were planning to wed in October at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. Others, however, claimed that the wedding would take place in July after the filming of John Woo’s star-studded war epic Red Cliff in which Leung, 46, plays the legendary military strategist Zhou Yun.

Invitation cards from the two are said to have been sent out for a wedding in July. There is now the latest news that the wedding date is July 21 as reported by Nanyang Siang Pau and Guang Ming Daily. The celebrity couple will be taking their vows in Bali, Indonesia.

The pair, who have been together since 1989, had expressed their desire to wed in recent interviews but only decided on the wedding date not long ago. The couple are believed to have booked an entire hotel in Bali to accommodate their friends and relatives, with return air tickets thrown in. Lau, 42, who has been planning the wedding since January, is said to be intent on having a baby after getting married.

Taiwanese tycoon Terry Gou Tai Ming, whom Lau was recently linked with, will also be getting married and has set his wedding date on July 26, five days after Lau and Leung’s wedding. A Taiwanese fortune-teller Chai compared the wedding dates and advised that Gou’s celebration on July 26 is a better date than Lau’s. Chai said July 21 was only favorable for the bridegroom but July 26 is an auspicious date for both.

If you are thinking to get your own wedding in Bali and prefer a better privacy, wedding at private villas are advisable. A number of Bali villas with spacious lawn and breath taking views are quite popular as wedding venues. Book Bali wedding villas to get your memorable moment at its best.

News by The Star Online – thestar.com.my