Music & Dance

Topeng is an Indonesian form of dance drama in which one or more dancers wear masks and perform ancient stories, often concerning ancient or mythical kings and heroes. It has its origins in the 17th century. Topeng dances are most prevalent in Bali and Java but are also found in other Indonesian islands such as Madura (off the […]

Rejang Dance, an ancient dance performs only in a temple anniversary in inner courtyard of the temple to delight and entertain the visiting god and spirit. Rejang Dance consist of a slow procession, but participants conduct themselves with extreme grace and delicacy. It is a dignified and elegant affair. Compare to other Balinese dances, Rejang Dance is the […]

Pendet Dance is a traditional dance from Bali, Indonesia, in which offerings are made to purify the temple or theater as a prelude to ceremonies or other dances. Pendet Dance is typically performed by young girls, carrying bowls of flower petals, handfuls of which are cast into the air at various times in the dance. Pendet Dance can […]

Bumblebee Dance, more correctly, the Oleg Tamulilingan Dance, created in 1952 by a famous male dancer Mario ( real name Ketut Marya) for a world fare, performed by the famous dance troupe from Peliatan, close to Ubud, in 1951. The Oleg Tamulilingan Dance or Bumblebee Dance is a very sensual performance and mimics the mating dance of 2 […]

The Kebyar Dance is a male solo dance like the Baris. There are various forms of Kebyar including the Kebyar Duduk Dance and Kebyar Trompong Dance. In Kebyar, the accent is upon the dancer himself, who interprets every nuance of the music in powerful facial expressions and movement.

Some expert said that the Janger Dance is derived from Sanghyang Dance. The female and male choirs were taken away from Sanghyang Dedari and formed new composition. Some said that janger originated from the song of girls, who picked coffee beans from the trees in North Bali. When they were sitting together during their break in the work, […]

The Gamelan Jegog is one of the most impressive sounding ensembles in the world. It is an orchestra of bamboo marimbas, with keys (tubes) ranging from small to gigantic. The largest tubes, up to three meters long, are used for the bass jegog, for which the ensemble is named. The resonant bass tones of the Gamelan Jegog can […]

Music and dance play an essential part in daily Balinese life, and as a tourist you can’t fail to experience it, either at a special tourist show, in rehearsal or at a temple festival. Traditionally, Balinese dancers and musicians have always learnt their craft from the experts in their village and by imitating other performers. In the 1960s, […]

Originating in the royal courts of 17th century Bali, Gambuh Dance combines dialogue, music and dance to enact romantic tales of courtly life, love and political intrigue based on the adventures of Panji, a historic Javanese prince. Gambuh Dance requires a large cast of dancer-actors and musicians and is distinctive and difficult to perform for various reasons, including […]

Calonarang Dance refers to the struggle between Rangda (Calonarang) and the Great King Airlangga. Calonarang was a widow of Girah who gave birth to a daughter in the jungle. Her daughter grew up to be the famed beauty Ratna Menggali. Calonarang wanted her daughter to marry a prince from Airlangga’s palace. However, no prince came along. Infuriated by […]

The Baris, a traditional war dance, glorifies the manhood of the triumphant Balinese warrior. The word baris means ‘line’ or ‘file’ and refers to the warriors who fought for the kings of Bali. There are numerous kinds of Baris, distinguished by the arms borne by the dancers.

Wayang Kulit, or Shadow Puppets as they are more commonly known as in English, are part of an ancient heritage of Pre-Hindu Culture that still exists in many regions around Indonesia. The word wayang means puppet, while kulit means skin. Wayang puppets are cut from thin pieces of buffalo hide and intricately carved and decorated to symbolize different […]