Darmana, I Nyoman (Balinese, 20th century) Oleg Tambulilingan Dance

The Oleg Tambulilingan is a form of Balinese dance that tells about a pair of beetles (male and female) who are making love in a flower garden. The term Oleg Tamulilingan itself comes from two words in Balinese, oleg which connotes limber and tambulilingan which means rocking. A paired dance performed by male and female dancers as male and female beetles. The female buzzing bee collects flower nectar from the flowers, while the male bee chases the female bees from flower to flower. At first the female beetle tends to tease, but in the end she surrenders to seduction and falls in love. in 1952, John Coast, a British humanist, was so impressed with Balinese art, he was eager to promote it to Europe and the United States, and led the art mission. He was also interested in showcasing some of the living arts, and wanted to bring a new dance work. The task fell upon Ketut Marya, the dancer from Tabanan who was famous for his Kebyar Duduk dance. Ketut Marya felt that it was very difficult for him in his old age, to create a new dance choreography. However, one of his students, I Sampih, persuaded him to create a dance piece for the Sekaha gong Peliatan gamelan group who was going abroad. Coast also stimulated Ketut Marya by showing a classical ballet dance book which contained photos of the "Sleeping Beauty" duet about Princess Aurora's romance with Prince Charming. Ketut Marya finally managed to develop his new dance, supported by a seasoned composer, Wayan Sukra from Marga, Tabanan, and later refined further by Anak Agung Gde Mandera, Gusti Kompyang, and Wayan Lebah from Peliatan, Gianyar. The Oleg Tambulilingan dance The Oleg Tambulilingan dance is a work of art that has always been admired by the Balinese, especially the people of Tabanan. This dance was created by I Ketut Marya, who was also known as Mario, in 1952 when he was more than 50 years old.
Medium: tempera on canvas
Size: 90 x 69 cm
Signature: signed and dated (lower right):”N Darmana Peliatan Ubud Bali”