Balinese dance and other traditions in Bali

Balinese dance is a kind of theatre and performance that tells the story of the island’s history, beliefs, myths, and legends.

While visiting the island of Bali in Indonesia, sooner or later, you will most likely come across the extraordinary Balinese dance, which is an inseparable part of Balinese tradition and a carrier of its history and identity. Dance in Indonesia, and in Bali in particular, is a fundamental element of the islanders’ cultural life. People dance literally everywhere and on every possible occasion. You do not even have to worry about searching for places where performances take place – street vendors and ticket sellers will certainly find you first. Every town and larger village has its group of musicians and its dancers. However, it is worth looking for performances by professional artists. The splendour of the original costumes and the sound of high-quality instruments greatly enhance the value of the performance you watch.

Balinese dance – The history of dance in Bali

The tradition of dance in Bali reaches far back into the past. Long before writing appeared, important events were already being described through dance movements. From the very beginning, dance has been deeply connected with Balinese mythology and religious rituals. It is worth noting that during a performance, not only the dancers’ body movements carry meaning, but also their facial expressions and even the smallest gestures and glances. Every tiny movement of the eyes or fingers has significance for the story being told.

Balinese dance – Balinese religious and ceremonial dances

Dance in Bali is divided into two main types. The first is sacred and religious dance. To see it, it is enough to visit the first larger temple during one of the Balinese festivals – and believe me, there are plenty of them. Practically, every two or three days, the islanders find a reason to hold some kind of religious ceremony. The most popular ceremonial dances are Wali and Bebeli. The first is a type of dance performed exclusively in temples. During these performances, the dancers often fall into a trance, which allows them to perform truly astonishing feats. The second type, Bebeli, is more like a theatrical performance in which the adventures of gods and demons from the Balinese pantheon are told through dance. Each dance has its own specific purpose – some entertain the gods, while others are meant to drive away demons.

Balinese dance – Secular Balinese dance

Another type of Balinese dance is secular dance. These are performed in the streets, in restaurants or in hotels, but whichever type of dance you happen to see, you will certainly enjoy it. The dancers devote themselves completely to their art. They begin training at a very young age so that over time they can perfect every movement. For me, the most fascinating dances were those telling stories from Balinese mythology. They typically depict the eternal struggle between good and evil. Brave heroes and terrifying demons appear in them. Both male dancers and beautiful female dancers portray perfectly the events and action of the story being told.

Costumes and music in Balinese dance

The performers and their costumes are truly impressive. The attention to detail and the intricate craftsmanship of the outfits are remarkable. What is even more interesting is that the artists prepare their costumes and props, which says a lot about the skills of Balinese performers. On stage, the dancers are usually accompanied by a group of musicians playing instruments known as gamelan. It is a set of drums and gongs. Some of them are suspended on special frames, while others lie horizontally. Musicians use special mallets and sticks to play them. The ensemble also includes wind and string instruments. Few people know that Poland has a world-recognised group performing traditional Indonesian music – the Warsaw Gamelan Group, a band of musicians operating at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Warsaw.

Balinese dance – Where to watch Balinese dance performances on the Indonesian island of Bali

We first encountered Balinese dance performances during our stay in Ubud, where dance and theatre shows are held regularly. The same is true in Denpasar and in many other places on the island. Ticket prices vary and depend on the season and the reputation of the artists performing in the show. In Ubud the tickets cost us 100,000 rupiah. In other parts of the island the prices may be different, most likely lower. Some better hotels invite artists to perform shows for their guests, allowing you to admire the dancers while enjoying dinner. Let us remember that Bali is not only about beautiful beaches, but also about a unique culture and extraordinary rituals. It would be a great waste to leave the island without seeing a traditional Balinese dance performance.

Balinese dance – facts, information, and curiosities

Traditional Balinese dance is closely connected with the Hindu religion and has a ritual function rather than purely an entertainment one.
Many dances are performed as offerings to gods and spirits rather than for an audience.
The oldest Balinese dances date back to the first millennium AD.
Dance in Bali is divided into three categories: sacred (wali), semi-sacred (bebali) and secular (balih-balihan).
One of the most famous dances is Legong, traditionally performed by young girls.
Precise hand and finger movements are characteristic of Balinese dances and carry symbolic meaning.
Eye movements (known as select) are critical and add dramatic expression to the dance.
Dancers often move in a low, bent position, which requires great strength in the leg muscles.
The music accompanying the dances is performed by a gamelan orchestra composed mainly of percussion instruments.
The Barong dance tells the story of the struggle between good and evil and is one of the most important Balinese performances.
The Kecak dance uses no musical instruments – the rhythm is created by a chorus of men chanting “cak, cak”.
Kecak is inspired by fragments of the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Dancers’ costumes are richly decorated with gold, stones and embroidery, and preparing them can take many hours.
Traditional stage make-up uses symbolic colours to emphasise the character of the role.
Learning to dance begins very early – children start learning the basics at the age of four or five.
Many dancers perfect their skills throughout their entire lives, treating dance as a spiritual practice.
Before performances, prayers, and purification rituals are often performed.
Balinese dance has traditionally been passed down from generation to generation mainly through oral tradition and observation, without written musical or choreographic notation.
In 2015 UNESCO inscribed the traditional dances of Bali on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Despite their growing popularity among tourists, the Balinese strive to preserve the authentic and religious character of their dances.