Bali Dances and Performance

  03 December 2008, 01:56:01 (245 hits)

Bali is multidimensional. Culture, nature, arts, could be found at their most unique elements in Bali. The combination of friendly, hospitable people, the physical beauty of the island, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality including dances. Birthdays, weddings, and temples festivals are all occasions for dramatic performances and dance is inextricably linked with the Balinese religion. The commercial performances for tourists that are today offered on a daily basis in several places of Bali do, of course, not have the same religious significance and atmosphere of a dance that is performed at a real temple festival. Dancers on Bali perform for the pleasure of the gods, prestige, and the entertainment of friends and family.

Barong Dance
If black magic prevails, a village fails into danger, and extensive purification ceremonies become necessary to restore a proper equilibrium for the health of the community. Dramatic art is also a mea of cleansing the village by strengthening its resistance to harmful forces through offerings, prayers and acts of exorcism. Such is the symbolic play of the two remarkable presences-the Barong and Rangda. Barong, a mystical creature with a long sway back and curved tail, represents the affirmative, the protector of mankind, the spirits associated with white magic.

Kecak Dance
The Kecak is an unusual Balinese dance for a couple of reasons. First, there is no musical accompaniment. The gamelan is not there. Rhythm is provided by a chanting 'monkey' chorus. The polyrhythmic sound of the chanting provides the name, 'Ke-chak'.

Legong Keraton Dance
In legends, Legong is the heavenly dance of divine nymphs. Of all classical Balinese dances, it remains the quintessence of femininity and grace. Girls from the age of five aspire to be selected to represent the community as Legong dancers.

Sang Hyang Dance
In the temple, two girls kneel before a brazier of smoking incense. The pemangku priest makes offerings to the deity of the temple, requesting protection for the village during the trance ceremony. Behind the girls are seated a group of women who chant the Sanghyang song, which asks the celestial nymphs to descend from heaven and dance before the people through the bodies of the girls.

Janger Dance
The flute begins an eerie tune, and faraway voices chant a strange song that flows from a loud melody to a nearly inaudible high pitch. Two girl singers appear wearing splendid, floral crowns with multi-coiored spikes. They advance, allowing another pair to enter, until twelve girls have filed on stage. Slowly, they kneel opposite each other, cocking their heads and darting their eyes to accent the rhythm of the orchestra.

Oleg Tambulilingan Dance
A modern dance choreographed by the late M ario in 1952, Oleg Tambulilingan has become a popular addition to the repertoire of dances included in a Legong performance. Originally, it was danced by only one girl and called Oleg, a general term meaning the swaying of a dancer. Later, a male part was added to make it a duet, and the dance gained a new theme depicting two bumblebees (tambulilingan) flirting in a garden.

Here is the places that perform some Bali?s dances :
Schedule of Balinese Dance

1 Barong & Rangda Dance
- Batubulan Everyday 9.30
- Puri Saren Ubud Fridays 19.00
- Catur Eka Budi - Kesiman Everyday 9.30
2 Kecak Dance
- Padang Tegal Ubud Sunday, Wednesday 19.00
- Puri Agung - Peliatan Thursday 19.30
- Banjar Junjungan - Ubdu Monday 19.00
- ARMA Open Stage - Ubud New Moon & Fullmoon 19.00
3 Legong Dance
- Puri Saren Ubud Monday, Saturday 19.30
- Peliatan Village Fridays 19.30
- Pura Dalem - Ubud Saturday 19.30
- ARMA Open Stage - Ubud Sunday 19.30
4 Sanghyang Jarang Dance
- Bona Village Sunday, Monday, Friday 19.00
- Batubulan Everyday 18.30