Screed Balinese Dance Ritual And Cultural

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At the heart of Balinese culture is Hinduism. This unique religion is the foundation of Bali’s rich art forms and dance in Bali not only serves as an offering to the Gods but also as entertainment for human beings. In Bali, dances are divided into three categories based upon the religious significance of a particular dance and the place of its performance. The three categories of dance in Bali are:

Wali means “ritual” and refers to forms of music and dance that must be performed during religious ceremonies or festivals. These sacred dances are the oldest forms of dance in Bali. Usually, these dances are performed in the jeroan, the innermost, and holiest, courtyard of a Balinese temple.

Bebali means “offering” and refers to ceremonial forms of music, dance and drama that are not necessarily a required part of a ritual but serve to accompany a ceremony. Bebali dances are held in the jaba tengah, the middle courtyard of a Balinese temple. Balih-balihan means “performance” or “spectacle” and refers to secular dances that act as entertainment in Bali. Into this category fall all dances that are not wali or bebali. These dances are, however, often associated with religious ceremonies and can be performed in the jaba, the outer court of a temple.


Four Sacred dances are featured on this Article:
- Sanghyang Jaran and Calon Arang, and Bebali dances
-Gambuh and Topeng. The Topeng may also be performed as a Wali dance if it is performed in the innermost court of the temple.

Dedari Sanghyang Dance And Jaran Sanghyang Dace

Dedari Sanghyang Dance And Jaran Sanghyang Dace means ‘holy’ or ‘deity’. A divinely inspired dance, requiring the participant to enter into trance and perform physical challenges: walking and holding hot embers and, sometimes, impaling oneself with a magical keris. The performer is believed to be protected from injury by divine intervention.

Jaran Sanghyang Dance

Dedari Sanghyang Dance

Calon Arang Dance Full Magig Dace

Calon Arang Dance is deeply concerned with the magical battle of light and dark. Black magic is deeply embedded in the Balinese socio-religious fabric to date and appeasement of the dark side of the divine panoply is not only a daily duty but is considered a wise precaution if one is not to fall prey to its powerfully destructive influence. This dance drama is a symbolic form of exorcism to keep the dark spirits aligned
with Rangda at bay.

Calon Arang Dance

Gambuh Dance

The Gambuh Dace featured here is a collaboration of a Swiss and Balinese Gambuh troop. In modern Bali many of the more archaic dances have fallen prey to a malaise attributed to the business of cultural commodities and the changing tastes of a new electronic media driven Balinese society. Outside organizations have made strong attempts to preserve Balinese culture with heritage contributions and by the transplanting of traditions carried on by students from other cultures.

Gambuh Dance

Topeng Dance
The Topeng Dance is a mask dance drama and one of the most popular forms of dance in Bali. It is very common for the performer to craft one’s own masks. Having to perform multiple characters is a physically rigorous study on the way to becoming a premiere Topeng artist upon the sacred stage.