Karangasem Sanggar Cultivates Next Generation of Balinese Dancers Since 2008
Amid sweeping urban growth, Sanggar Surya Candra Puri Gede stands as a cultural hub at Jl. Patih Jelantik, Puri Gede Karangasem, Karangasem. Established in 2008, this art community has focused on keeping Balinese dance vibrant.
Pedanda Istri Ayu Karang (Source: Sanggar Collection)
Pedanda Istri Ayu Karang, better known as Bu Dayu Ratih, created the sanggar to serve as both school and home for children interested in traditional arts. Weekly classes run every Friday at 3 PM WITA and Sunday at 9 AM WITA in a courtyard decorated with carved wooden pillars and framed wayang images. Three instructors guide students, two with long ties to regional ensembles and one, Ni Made Suradnyani, S.Sos., M.Si., whose method blends firm guidance with genuine care. She brings lessons on cultural meanings behind each gesture and uses live gamelan accompaniment to enrich learning.
Sanggar Surya Candra Puri Gede appears in both village gatherings and larger occasions. Troupes perform during City Anniversary celebrations, the annual Bali Arts Festival (PKB), official regency ceremonies, hotel showcases and tourism expos across the island. Audiences often praise the sanggar’s precise formations and vivid costumes.
Baruna Murti Dance (Source: Sanggar Collection)
A standout project took place at PKB 2024, when the sanggar fielded hundreds of dancers in a single parade. That event joined past triumphs such as the Karangasem Cultural Movement Carnival 2020 (Baruna Murti), an energetic showcase of ocean-inspired choreography; the Karangasem World Music Festival 2019, where they premiered Tari Gebug to wide acclaim; and the Pesona Tirta Gangga Festival 2019, winning first prize for the Condong Dance. The sanggar contributed to the Colossal Genjek presentation at Taman Sukasada Ujung in 2018 and regularly receives invitations to official government ceremonies.
Teaching Children (Source: Private Collection)
Ni Made Suradnyani, S.Sos., M.Si., looks back on her time with younger learners. “It has been an extraordinary experience with many challenges when teaching children,” she remarked, highlighting the effort required to instill focus and teamwork. “The performance at the PKB parade in 2024, which involved hundreds of people, became an unforgettable experience,” she said, recalling the thrill of coordinating so many dancers under evening lights.
Dance Preparation (Source: Sanggar Collection)
Sanggar Surya Candra Puri Gede serves as more than a dance studio; it functions as a preservation center where new generations build pride in their roots. Students learn to master intricate footwork, eye movements and hand formations, all under the watchful eyes of instructors who respect traditional repertoire. Through persistent practice, competition victories and inventive projects, the sanggar proves that nurturing cultural skill shapes confident young artists devoted to ancestral dance.
