Balinese dances are a very ancient dance tradition that is a part of the religious and artistic expression among the Balinese people, native to Bali island, Indonesia. Balinese dance is dynamic, angular and intensely expressive. The Balinese dancers express the story of dance-drama through the whole bodily gestures; fingers, hands and body gestures to head and eyes movements.

There is a great richness of dance forms and styles in Bali; and particularly notable are those ritualistic dance dramas which involve Rangda, the witch and the great beast Barong. Most of dances in Bali are connected to Hindu rituals, such as the Sanghyang Dedari sacred dance than invoked hyang spirits that believed to possess the dancers in trance state during the performance. Other Balinese dances are not linked to religious rituals and created for certain purposes, such as Pendet welcoming dance and Joged dance that is social dance for entertainment purpose.

Bali dancers learn the craft as children from their mothers as soon as they are born, in the womb they are played the Balinese music and are taught to dance with their hands before they can walk. Official training as a Bali dancer starts as young as 7. In Balinese dance the movement is closely associated with the rhythms produced by the gamelan, a musical ensemble specific to Java and Bali. Multiple levels of articulations in the face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and feet are coordinated to reflect layers of percussive sounds.

The number of codified hand positions and gestures, the mudras, is higher in India than in Java or Bali. It has been speculated that they have been forgotten as the dance was transmitted from India to Java. Hand positions and gestures are nonetheless as important in Javanese and Balinese dance as in India. Whether in India, Indonesia or Cambodia, hands have a typically ornamental role and emphasize the dance's delicate intricacy.

Unfortunately, many tourists to Bali have to see poor quality performances in their resort hotel, which are usually meant for commercial and quick cash purposes, and dance groups are shamefully threatened and paid by some of the resort hotel..

Some however deliver high quality performances, like fe the magical 'Legong Dance' performance in the iconic Tanjung Sari Hotel in Sanur. Respect to them !

We have our own foundation to support dance groups and musicians.

We give financial, marketing and legal support to these groups in order that they can buy and maintain their instruments, costumes and religious attributes.

This way we are able to support the local children being trained in the complex dance techniques, and they can pass it on to the newer generations..

These musicians and dancers are performing in our own theater, located inside in the private compound of the Balinese Royal Family in Klungkung, approximately only half an hour from the beach resorts in South Bali. They bring high quality performances of several of the Bali dances, and is experienced by the guests as absolutely magical and a highlight during their holiday in Bali.

We also cater in the Royal Palace with exclusive private exotic nights for groups.

Usually accompanied with a delicious and fairylike buffet dinner..

Jegog & Joged Bumbung

We have our own Jegog ensemble.

Jegog is a form of gamelan music indigenous to Bali, Indonesia played on instruments made of bamboo. The tradition of jegog is centered in Jembrana, a region in Western Bali. In recent years jegog has started to become popular in other regions of Bali with a few groups being established in central Bali to entertain tourists. International interest has been spread by tourists visiting Bali and by recordings. Pieces last from a few minutes to as long as thirty minutes.

Mebarung

Jegog is not only known for its grand dimensions. It has another unique aspect - a 'musical combat' whereby two 'teams' play in competition for supremacy. First, one team begins to play, while the members of the other watch till their opponents seem to be reaching their peak - and then the second team starts to play too. This is strategic: they want not so much to overshadow the first team but to break up its rhythm and stride. In response the first must pull back, and eventually the second team too completes its turn, the players near state of exhaustion palpable. The audience then makes its choice as to which has shown itself supreme.

Throughout the mebarung you'll see the serious intent on each musician's face, as they push themselves to their physical limit in long bursts of unrelenting percussion, driving themselves as if in a group trance, or experiencing a group high. Their prowess and their power are unforgettable.

A Mebarung performance is often performed in villages far away from the tourist resorts.

Experiencing a Mebarung Performance iin a village, when the whole village is out to watch the spectacle, is something unforgettable and unique.

We do include Mebarung performances for groups.

Joged Bumbung

Joged bumbung is a style of gamelan music from Bali, Indonesia on instruments made primarily out of bamboo. The ensemble gets its name from joged, a flirtatious dance often performed at festivals and parties. This style of Gamelan is especially popular in Northern and Western Bali, but is easily found all over the island. Unlike many styles of Balinese Gamelan which have sacred roles in religious festivals, Joged music is much more secular, and in many ways has become the folk music of Bali.

The dancing girls are considered to be virgins, and their sexually erotic and seducing dance movements and gestures are making the local men crazy and sometimes uncontrollable..

Witnessing a Joged Bumbung performance in a village is an absolute highlight.

We generally include Joged Bumbung performances in group itineraries.