Tentative schedule for Traditional dances, Balinese Performance in Bali

History of Balinese Dance


After the Majapahit warriors subdued Bali in the 14th century, Javanese mini-principalities and courts soon appeared everywhere, creating that unique blend of court and peasant culture, which is Bali - highly sophisticated, dynamic and lively.

 The accompanying narrative for dance and drama is to a large extent based on court stories from pre-Majapahit Java.

 Even the Indian epics, another favorite of the stage, especially the wayang, use Javanese, complete with long quotes from the ancient Javanese Kakawin poetry So Javanese culture, which disappeared from Java following Islamization in the l6th century, still survived in Bali in Balinese form, which became classical Balinese culture.

However, colonization brought about the fall of classical Bali. With the rural courts defeated and with new lords of the land, the centre of creativity shifted to village associations, and to the development of tourism. The 30's and 50's were particularly fertile decades; while the old narrative led theater survived, lively solo dances appeared everywhere, accompanied by a new, dynamic kind of music called gong kebyar. This trend continued in the 60's and 70's with the creation of colossal sendratari ballets, representing ancient Indian and Javanese stories adapted to the needs of modern audiences.

Dance and Religion

Balinese dance is inseparable from religion. A small offering of food and flowers must precede even dances for tourists. Before performing, many dancers pray at their family shrines, appealing for holy "taksu" (inspiration) from the gods. In this rural tradition, the people say that peace and harmony depend on protection by the gods and ancestors. Dance in this context may fulfill a number of specific functions:


a) As a channel for visiting gods or demonic gods, the dancers acting as a sort of living repository. These trance dances include the Sang Hyang Dedari, with little girls in trance, and the Sang Hyang Jaran, a fire dance;

b) As a welcome for visiting gods, such as the pendet, rejang and sutri dances;

c) As entertainment for visiting gods, such as the topeng and the wayang.


In some of these dances, the role of dancing is so important that it is actually the key to any meaning to be found in the ritual. In wayang performances, the puppeteer is often seen as the "priest" sanctifying the holy water.

 

As well as their use in religious ceremonies, dance and drama also have a strong religious content. It is often said that drama is the preferred medium through which the Balinese cultural tradition is transmitted. The episodes performed are usually related to the rites taking place; during a wedding one performs a wedding story; at a death ritual there is a visit to "hell" by the heroes. Clowns (penasar) comment in Balinese, peppering their jokes with religious and moral comments on stories whose narratives use Kawi (Old-Javanese).

 

The typical posture in Balinese dance has the legs half bent, the torso shifted to one side with the elbow heightened and then lowered in a gesture that displays the suppleness of the hands and fingers. The torso is shifted in symmetry with the arms. If the arms are to the right, the shifting is to the left, and vice-versa.


Apart from their costumes, male and female roles can be identified mostly by the accentuation of these movements. The women's legs are bent and huddled together, the feet open, so as to reveal a sensual arching of the back. The men's legs are arched and their shoulders pulled up, with more marked gestures, giving the impression of power.

 

Balinese Dance Schedule :

  

Name of Group

Performances

Venue / Location

Time


SUNDAY

Jaya Swara

Legong Mahabrata

Ubud Palace

19.30

Trene Jenggala

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Padang Tegal Kaja

19.30

Oka Kartini

Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet Play)

Oka Kartini

20.00

The Peliatan Masters

Legong Dance

Arma

19.30

Cahya Warsa

Janger

Ubud Water Palace

19.30

Suara Sakti

Jegog

Betuyung Village

19.30

Krama Desa Sambahan

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Batu Karu Temple

19.30


MONDAY

Sadha Budaya

Legong Dances

Ubud Palace

19.30

Krama Desa Adat Jungjungan

Kecak Fire (Mongkey Chant Dance)

Junjungan Village

19.30

Shandi Suara

Barong & Keris Dance

Wantilan

19.30

Krama Desa Adat Ubud Kaja

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Pura Dalem Ubud

19.30


TUESDAY

Bina Remaja

Ramayana Ballet

Ubud Palace

19.30

Semara Ratih

Spirit of Bali

Jaba Pura Desa Kutuh

19.30

Shandi Suara

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Padang Tegal Kelod

19.30

Wayang Kulit Kertha

Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet Play)

Mongkey Forest

20.00

Genta Bhuana Sari

Legong Dance

Balerung Mandera

19.30

Sekaa Gong Karyasa

Legong Dance

Pura Dalem Ubud

19.30

Chandra Wati

Women Orchestra Performing Dances

Ubud Water Palace

19.30


WEDNESDAY

Panca Arta

Legong & Barong Dance

Ubud Palace

19.30

Pondok Pekak

Frog Dance Padang Kertha

Padang Tegal Kelod

19.30

Oka Kartini

Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet Play)

Oka Kartini

20.00

Yamasari

Legong Dance

Yamasari Stage Peliatan

19.30

Trene Jenggala

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Padang Tegal kelod

19.30

Yowana Swara

Jegog

Pura Dalem Ubud

19.30

Krama Desa Adat Taman Kaja

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Pura Dalem Taman Kaja

19.30


THURSDAY

Panca Artha

Legong Trance & Paradise Dance

Ubud Palace

19.30

Semara Madya

Kecak (Monkey Chance Dance)

Puri Agung peliatan

19.30

Semara Madya

Legong Dance

Jaba Pura Desa Kutuh

19.30

Pondok Pekak

Legong Dance

Pondok Pekak

19.30

Sekehe Arja Peni

The Barong & Keris Dance

Pura Dalem Ubud

19.30

Cenik Wayah

Spirit of Gamelan (Barong Child Dance)

Ubud Water Palace

19.30

Sandhi Suara

Kecak Fire and Trance Dance

Wantilan

19.30

Krama Desa Sambahan

Kecak Fire and Trance Dance

Batu Karu Temple

19.30


FRIDAY

Sadha Budaya

Barong Dance

Ubud Palace

19.30

Tirta Sari

Legong Dance

Balerung Stage Peliatan

19.30

Padang Subadra

Kecak & Fire Dance

Padang Kertha

19.30

Oka Kartini

Wayang Kulit

Oka Kartini

20.00

Suara Sakti

Jegog

Bentuyung Village

19.30

Krama Desa Adat Ubud Kaja

Kecak & Fire Dance

Pura Dalem Ubud

19.30


SATURDAY

Bina Remaja

Legong Dance

Ubud Palace

19.30

Gunung Sari

Legong Dance

Puri Agung Peliatan

19.30

Trene Jenggala

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Padang Tegal

19.30

Wayang Kulit Kertha

Wayang Kulit

Monkey Forest

20.00

Chandra Wirabhuana

Legong Dance

Ubud Water Palace

19.30

Pondok Pekak

Frog Dance

Padang Kertha

19.30

Satya Brasta

Children Performances

Arma Open Stage

19.30

Semara Ratih

The Beauty of Legong

Pura Dalem Ubud

19.30

Krama Desa Adat Taman Kaja

Kecak Fire & Trance Dance

Pura Dalem Taman Kaja

19.30

 

Notes :
- The above schedules can be changed without prior notice.
- Please ask your driver or guide to reconfirm it.