The History of Pendet Dance

Bali Personal Drivers - If traced from history, the Pendet Dance has long been entrenched in the culture of Bali. Wayan Dibia, The Professor of Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) Denpasar, said the Pendet Dance is one of the oldest dances among its kind which exist on Bali island. Dibia also said, that the creator or choreographer of the modern form of Pendet Dance are two artists which born in Sumertha village of Denpasar, namely I Wayan Rindi and Ni Ketut Reneng. "Both of these artists create the Welcoming Pendet Dance with four dancers to be presented as part of the touristic performances in a number of existing hotels in Denpasar, Bali" he added. He also said if since its creation Pendet Dance always used as the opening act for the another dance performance presentation.

I Wayan Rindi (? -1967), is a dancer who is widely known as an the dance aspirant with the ability to compose and preserve the art of Balinese dance through learning its on future generations. During his life he actively teaches a variety of Balinese dance performance, including Pendet Dance to the family and to the community in the vicinity of his residence.
In 1961, I Wayan Beratha reworks the Pendet Dance such a pattern as it is now, including adding the number of dancers to five dancers. Then a year later, I Wayan Beratha and his friends created the Mass Pendet Dance with the number of dancers is not less than 800 person, that featured in the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Jakarta.

The Pendet Dance source inspiration is a procession called "mamendet" or "mendet" during the sacred ritual "Odalan ceremony", which is took place in the temple. Mamendet procession takes place after the priest proclaimed "Puja Mantra" (prayer), and after Sidakarya masks performance - a sacred theater which is philosophically legitimize the religious ceremony. Almost every Odalan ceremony, in temples both large and small in Bali is accompanied by mamendet procession. Even in some large temples like Pura Besakih is located at the foot of Agung Mount, usually exclusively featuring the mamendet procession with Baris Pendet dance. Baris Pendet dance is a dance that performed in pairs or in mass by men with bring amenities offerings and flowers.
Mamendet procession is etymologically derived from the word "mendak" (welcome). Its dancers do not always specially prepared, and generally can be performed by all participants including men and women both older and younger. When the gamelan was chanting "Gending Papendetan" (Mamendet music), those who want "Ngayah Mendet" (make Mendet offerings), will dance sincerely and alternately perform in holy temple courtyard. They can dance a solo, in pairs, or even mass.
An elderly grandpa, can vigorously bringing offerings and flowers and then dancing with a full improvisation to interact with gamelan accents. Or a frail grandma, no warning is suddenly rose with lively to waddle with the innocent expression. The teenagers who are still energetic can also often be seen mamendet by dancing with earnestly. Its all done in the frame of art as an offering which means the excitement to welcome the presence of the Gods.

Read also The Controversy of Pendet Dance.

Reference : isi-dps.ac.id