If you travel through every village in Bali, you may notice that they are all have similarity each other. The Balinese are very concern for the balance of life. This is what we call the Hindu concept Tri Hita Karana, which describes the three main orientation of human concern for balancing their life with the environment. Read the rest of this entry »

Originally uploaded by pxn8.

A mask dance is very unique dance, dancer have to imitate the character that represented by the mask itself. Mask or Topeng for Indonesian is also know in Java, which is very old and classic.

The right picture is the figure of an old wise man with grey hair and walk like creaky old gentleman. In other dances, there may be a small group who perform various character and types.

Tari Topeng or Mask dance usually perform for a religious ceremony such as a temple anniversary (I have seen it always at the Pura Sakenan temple anniversary right on the Kuningan day). The character comments on anything, even politics, or morality at the recent situation.

Originally uploaded by adametrnal.

Kecak dance is one of Bali’s unusuall dance, not like any other dance, Kecak performed without gamelan. The name is actually taken from the rythim of the chanting ‘monkey’ chorus; cha-chak-cha-cak …

The story behind Kecak is taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the dance tells the story of Prince Rama and his rescue of Princess Sita, who has been kidnapped by the evil King of Lanka.

A troupe of over 150 bare-chested men serve as the chorus circling the flame at the centre where the dancer are performing.
In the 1930’s Wayan Limbak worked with German painter Walter Spies to create the Kecak from movements and themes in the traditional sanghyang exorcism ritual and the portions of the Ramayana. This collaboration between artists worked to create a dance that was both authentic to Balinese traditions but also palatable to Western tourist’s narrow tastes at the time. Wayan Limbak popularized the dance by traveling throughout the world with Balinese performance groups. These travels have helped to make the Kecak famous throughout the world.