Bali Performance

Dance and Drama
Dance and Drama have played a historically important role in Balinese society.Through this medium,people learned about the tales of the Ramayana,Mahabrata and of other epic stories from Balinese history.The following are brief description of some of the more well-known dance-dramas that can be seen at regular perpormance throughout Bali.

Baris

This is warrior’s dance.It is usually performed by men,either solo or in a group of five or more.

Barong and Rangda

This is a story about the struggle between good and evil.Good is personified by the Barong Keket,a strange but fun-loving creature in the shape of a shaggy semi-lion.evil is represented by Rangda a witch.

Kecak

The most famous of the Balinese dances,originated from the Sanghyang dance choirs,holds its uniqueness in the entrancing ‘Kecak,Kecak’ chant.The Kecak as a dance developed in the 1930s,in the village of Bona

Legong

This dance tells story of princess Rangkesari being heldcaptive by King Lakessmi.Rangkesari’s brother,prince Daha,gather an army to rescure his sister.The Legong is a very classical and graceful dance,always performed by prequbescent girls,who can be as young as eight or nine years old.

Wayang Kulit

Wayang Kulit is one of the great story –telling traditionalof the Javanese and Balinese people.The Wayang Kulit show usually consist of a small four –piece orchestra,which provides the musical accompaniment ,around sixty ‘puppets’,carved out of flat pieces of water buffalo hide,and the dalang or puppet-master.The good characters speak in ancient “ Kawi”,whereas the evil or coarse ones speak Balinese