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Why the dance
and music of Bali
are special
 The dance and music of Bali entertain and uplift your spirit. Both art forms have been performed and acclaimed in
major cultural centers around the world. Experiencing them in Bali is the ultimate experience.
Dances
of Bali
Most Balinese dances relate to segments of the Ramayana, an ancient Hindu epic illustrating the
perpetual struggle between good and evil.
The three favorite dances among
locals and tourists in Bali are:
 Barong
- A classic
dance. Stunning.
Depicts the conflict between the good Barong
(dressed in a fanciful lion-like costume) and the evil Rangda.
Legong
-. Another
classic dance. Graceful. Performed by three pre-pubescent girls in colorful attire.
Kecak
- Although this frenetic
dance was not choreographed until the 1930s (and by a Westerner), the Kecak is convincingly rooted in Balinese
tradition. Typically, it features 50 to 100 bare-chested men
sitting cross-legged in tight concentric circles. They play the role of monkeys, which is why the dance is
sometimes called the "monkey dance". As they sway in unison, they repeatedly chant the
nonsensical phrase "kechak ke chak”
virtually non-stop and without musical accompaniment. They do this in a hypnotic beat to scare away an evil spirit.
Several Balinese dancers help dramatize the story.
Gamelan music
of Bali
Nothing is more mesmerizing than the haunting percussion sounds of a Balinese gamelan orchestra.
The musicians play an
assortment of instruments including native metal gongs, drums, chimes, cymbals and metalophones (xylophones).
The counterpointing is exhilarating.
Although
a 15 to 30 member gamelan orchestra is the one most associated with “gamelan”, many other distinct types
exist in Bali.
There are marching gamelans – and small-group
gamelans that provide music for the Barong and Legong dances.
And, there is the Gamelan Jegog, consisting of
two or more floor-seated Balinese musicians playing soft rhythmical melodies on bamboo-based xylophones (Note: Jegog
performances are now common in resort lobbies).
Cultural
Performances
Many Balinese villages hold dance and music events for temple ceremonies. Some welcome visitors, providing they
discreetly observe.
Though
not as authentic (or lengthy) as the village presentations, there are many one hour Balinese dance and music
performances geared especially for tourists. They are staged in hotel or non-hotel settings. Hotel events are
integrated with grand buffets.
Most of the non-hotel performances take
place in the Denpasar Art Center and in artisan villages such as Ubud and Batubulan (click the Bali map button to
see their locations).
Both the hotel and non-hotel affairs entertain, though
those in non-hotel venues are truer to the originals. And, their Balinese performers are noticeably more skilled and
talented – and put more of their hearts into their efforts.
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learn why the top ten Bali
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