The usual introduction to Balinese culture for most tourists is Balinese dances; these elegant, whole-body dances open leave audiences enthralled and excited. This is why these dances are not to be missed; it is an essential part of your Bali tourism experience. Club Med Bali has a dance-focused excursion as well; join our Uluwatu temple excursion to enjoy a sacred but entertaining dance in the evening.
Back to the topic at hand though! While Balinese dances are often part of a tourist’s experience, that does not mean all the dances are the same. There are mainly three types of Balinese dances, as explained below:
Wali dances: These are the most sacred types of dances, done not for entertainment reasons but more to make contact with spiritual deities. These dances are considered an offering to different entities, in exchange for things like counteracting negative forces, protection, or strength. Wali dances are usually performed on the inner courts of Bali’s temples.
Bebali dances: These dances are not purely entertainment, but not purely sacred either. Therefore, they fall in between Wali and Balih-balihan dances. Instead of making contact with deities, these dances are done to entertain deities as well as devotees (and in ancient times, royalty).
Balih-balihan dances: Secular dances meant for the entertainment of the masses, this type of dance is often done in the outer courts of Bali’s temples or outside the temples. The popular Barong ket dance falls under this category.
Regardless of the type of Balinese dance, they are all fantastic to watch. Dancers elegantly move their whole body to the beat of the music, and a lot of the time, the dance portrays a story that invokes emotion in the audience. It’s no surprise then that Balinese dances are one of the things that fascinate others about their culture.