How to make balinese dance costumes (sisia dancer)

Sisia dance costume Made in Tunas Maragawi
The Gelungan, Bapang, Lilit, Saput, and Tapih. We made most parts of the costumes by ourselves

Tunas Maragawi had a chance to perform Sisia Dance in in the story of Calonarang dance at Pura Dalem Gede Peliatan.

This is a group dance consisted with many dancers. More dancers need more costumes. Sometimes difficult to cover the cost of the costumes when dancing in large number of group. But we wanted many of our dancers from Tunas Maragawi could join, so we decided to make our own costumes.

Nowadays buying a set of dance costume is quite expensive, indeed can be rented at the shop, but the Sisia dance costume was a bit simple, so we could made it by ourselves.

Previously kadek ferry ( f ) and m (mayumi inouye) once had made and sew their own dance costumes and the costume for girls gamelan musicians as well. These costumes often used by the dancers and gamelan musicians of Tunas Maragawi. One of them was during The Performance of Akar Wangi.

How to make balinese dance costumes (sisia dancer)

Fabric, thread, beads.

This time we made the headdresses (Gelungan), the Bapang, Saput, Tapih, and Lilit for 20 dancers. When all finished and if we get another chance to perform the same dance, we will further try to make the Kereb. >>> Finally we made the Kereb!!

How to make balinese dance costumes (sisia dancer)

The frame of the headdress Gelungan Sisia Jegeg
We ask for a help from kadek ferry ( f ) for a heavier works

m (mayumi inouye) made an example to be followed by the children, and slowly she taught them the sewing techniques. The children looked happy to do this. A simple object design was selected and this suitable for the children who do sewing for the first time.

How to make balinese dance costumes (sisia dancer)

Was it difficult?

On this performance there were 20 dancers from junior and high school age. Every day after school they came to f studio for dance lessons and working on their sewing work gradually. In a fairly short time they completed each part of their job. Well done!

Sometimes the dancers of elementary school age group also came by to help. They did not come to join the dance but they wanted to know how to make these costumes. On the other hand they were so helpful, giving a little help to their older friend!

How to make balinese dance costumes (sisia dancer)

Was it difficult?

In parts of the works that required a sewing machine, m did it as well as keeping an eye to the children who were sewing, arranging and putting flowers to the Gelungan (headdress), etc.

How to make balinese dance costumes (sisia dancer)

The ability of each child was different, there were kids with fast catching sewing techniques, there were also kids with their neatly work but needed a long time to finish. When doing all these works sometimes they help each other and switched their working part toward a friend who couldn’t complete the sewing.

And,,,, well done!!!
Try to see the result on the top photo!
If you think these were made by children, they were great! Weren’t they?