Topeng

A balinese dance drama

It is widely used to retell ancient stories.
It is believed that topeng is closely related to
ancestral spirits which are considered
interpretations of gods.

https://live.staticflickr.com/3862/15243082651_0708610932_n.jpgThis Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

 Context

• History
Appeared in the 15 century and it is still prevalent in Java and Bali.

• Mask and characters

There are different masks for different characters, which engages the
audience http://daengbattala.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DSCN7557.jpg.
 • Through body movement dancers portray
emotion, status or age of the character they
Performance are playing.
convention • The dance movements have been derived
from the classical balinese dance drama called
gambuh.
• The 4 main categories include- agem, tadang,
tangkep and tangkis
 Elbows and chest
-Elbows - near the chest Fingers
-Chest- bulges out -Middle finger and thumb
-trembling – portray the
mood
Back and pelvis
-vertical tilt and upright
-pelvis moves outwards

Legs- shouldKnees andapart

be kept wide legs
Kness-
-Legsbent side ways
- wide apart
-Kness -bent sideways

Footwork and walk

-Grounded movements
-Pattern while walking
 • Topeng tua
Section B
• Displays old physicality
Exploration process

• I worked on -
• Knee placement
• Legs strength
• Elbows
• Back agility
• Balancing
Demonstration
Section C
Topeng made me
• A better dancer
• A better performer
• More principled
• A communicator
• More reflective

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

Bharatnatyam and topeng
• Facial Expressions and Masks
• Bharatnatyam – facial expressions are called as mukhya abhinaya and they have
exaggerated expressions to coney . Whereas the topeng performers usually have a
mask.

• Hand Gestures (Mudras)

• Bharatnaym – hastas , like shikaram
• Topeng the hand gestures are called as gelunga.

• Rhythmic Patterns and Footwork

Bharatnatyam-The movements are synced with the music. Jathi sawarams
The walk in bharatnatym in called as chari and it topeng its called pikul

• Upright posture
• In bharatnatyam the posture is called as araimundi and for topeng its called
awal

• Main movements
• Adavus include movements like Tattu, Natta, and Paraval adavus, among others.
• Topeng- agem tadang tangkis and tangkep
Thank you!