Legong Dance
is a highly stylized and extremely difficult dance traditionally
performed by young girls. It is choreographed to the finest
detail with no improvisation allowed.
Barong Dance
illustrates a contest between opposing forces of Chaos and
Destruction ("Rangda") and order ("Barong")
Fire Dance
is an exorcism against the spirit of possession. Young performers
dance barefoot in trance on top of glowing coals.
Ramayana Dance
is a dance performed occasionally in Banjar Buni, Kuta
Kecak Dance
is a ritual dance created in the early 1930's for the movie
"Islands of the Demons" by a German painter and
intellectual Walter Spies. He for the first time combined
the chanting chorus of the "sanghyang" trance
dance with a story from the "Ramayana". It is
highly charged, emotional and very impressive, all male
circular chorus of over 100 performers. |
Gamelan
derives from the indigenous ancient orchestra of Java, but
what is played in Bali today is altogether more lively and
progressive than anything you’ll hear on the larger
island. The Balinese gamelan is characterized by its brilliance
of sound, its sudden changes of volume and pace, and its
virtuoso displays of precise, fast playing. |
Pottery
Ceramics have never played an important role in Balinese
culture, expect for the utilitarian pot, bowls, lids, roof
tiles and bricks, that are made out of a poor quality red
clay.
Painting
There are different styles of painting in Bali. The best
known are associated with the towns of Batuan, Ubud, Sanur
and Klungkung.. The most traditional imagary depicts daily
scenes as well as legendary ones. The Kamasan or Klungkung
style is famous for restrained or monochrome palette. They
are comparatively realistic, fill every corner of the canvas
with detail, and lack any real attempt at light and shading
effects.
Wood carving
There are some wonderful craftsmen in Bali who, fashion
wood with delicate steel tools and a lightweight hammer,
working with extraordinary speed. They also produce painted
carvings made from local softwoods. Hardwood carvings are
produced using imported wood.
Masks - Topeng
Balinese Masks (topeng) are an important element in Balinese
dance, and foreigners have been quick to see them as desirable
collectors’ items. Every actor knows the power of
a mask. Hanging on a wall, it’s merely decorative.
Worn, a mask comes alive and becomes a part of the actor,
yet representing a different new being. Mask and actor combine
to become something neither was before. The Balinese view
this p phenomenon as a sacred power that inhabits the masks.
Many masks represent Gods, and as the head is considered
the most sacred part of the body, the special status in
bali is assured (what does this mean?). Masks are primarily
made at Mas and Singapadu out of the wood of the pule, tree,
otherwise known as the milky pine in Australia
Stone carving
Balinese stone carvings, unlike wood carvings, have been
subject to limited western stylistic influence. Figures
from nature, as opposed to mythology, have long been incorporated
into stone carving design.. The stone used for carving is
a soft local sandstone.
Gold and Silver
Ubud is the island’s silverware center. Intricate,
items from rings to tableware are the local specialty. |
| Ikat
is a cloth for which both warp and weft have been dyed with
designs before forming a pattern, is produced and sold in
the Bali Aga Village of Teganan.
Endek
is a local handmade cloth, where a pattern has been dyed
into the weft by tying it with strips of plastic.
Songket
is a favorite textile amongst Balinese for festive religious
occasions is a brocade called songket which are woven threads
of a gold or silver color. It is widely available and is
especially beautiful when new and fresh.
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