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Caption: BALINESE MASKS Dance & Drama
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Caption: HISTORY
Balinese masks are used in Topèng, a special type of performance known as a mask drama that is an important genre in Bali.
Topèng have been used for both religious and secular performances since the inception of Balinese mask drama. History of Masks places the birth of Topèng and Balinese masks in the beginning of the 15th century.
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Caption: TOPENG PANCA
Topèng Panca, ‘five masks' is one kind of mask dance in which five men play the various roles from the refined king and the strong minister to Topèng Tua (old man).
Nb: Performance by Seni Bajra Murti Topeng Art Community, Banjar Medahan, Blahbatuh, Gianyar. Bali Art Festival 2016 (05/07/16)
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Caption: PATIH MANIS
Patih manis or the prime minister is the first mask revealed in the series of introductory dances (penglebar) that precede the story of topeng. This character reflects the so-called rough personality types by exhibiting tendecies toward pride, foolishness and ambition.
"Balinese Masks"
by Juddy Slattum
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Caption: TOPENG TUA
The next mask used during the introductory dances is the Topeng Tua, which may reemerge later in the drama as a Senior Minister, Wise Elder Statesman, or King in retirement. Possessing a good deal of pathos, this character exhibits great dignity and inner strenght as well as childlike innoncence.
"Balinese Masks"
by Juddy Slattum
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Caption: PENASAR KELIHAN
The elder brother of the two clown servants to the character of the story, the penasar kelihan is the proud and pompous comic foil of his more wiry and clever younger brother, Penasar Cenikan.
"Balinese Masks"
by Juddy Slattum
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Caption: PENASAR CENIKAN
Penasar Cenikan is the younger brother of the two clown servants who sing or speaks his dialogue in local vernacular interlaced with witty comments. Penasak Cenikan is always a "little guy" and the dancer who performs this role in the mask drama is costumed to exaggerate his small and skinny physigue. He is also known as Kartala, penasar cenikan has the clearest idea of what is going on in the plot and sees the true nature of the character.
"Balinese Masks"
by Juddy Slattum
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Caption: PENASAR MATA BOLONG
This other version of Penasar Kelihan allows the performer better vision to navigate amongst his fellow performers. It is used in Topeng Panca as well the Prembon drama, for the servant to the Raja or Prime Minister and narrator of the story.
"Balinese Masks"
by Juddy Slattum
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Caption: TOPENG DALEM
The handsome Dalem (meaning Raja or King) usually appears fourth in the introductory dances to the Topeng, then reemerges as a character in the main story... It represents the qualities desirable in a ruler: intelligence, nobility, and a forceful, positive disposition.
"Balinese Masks"
by Juddy Slattum
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Caption: -Thank You -
#StellarID #CULTURE #BALI #BALINESE #MASK #DRAMA #ART
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