Menu
The ritual theatre is performed by the masters of this ancient style. Still similar in composition to its original form, the Gambuh preserves the ideals and manners of MAJAPAHIT a splendid era some five centuries ago. The enchanting flutes of the orchestra stir the imagination to these times long past.
Stories from the great Hindu epic the Ramayana are rendered through this dance drama. The Wayang Wong boast a full host of characters, all beautifully costumed and fully masked.
The dancer’s persona must fade like a shadow, allowing the magic of the ancient character whom the mask portrays, to come to life.
A dance – drama depicting the struggle to maintain balance between the forces of light and darkness – to find harmony within the conflict a dramatic play of magical force with Bali’s guardian lion Barong and her guise of the evil witch Rangda.
THE TOPENG – Has Its Own Repertoire ranging from the senile antics of a retired dignitary (Topeng Tua) to the slap-stick spontaneity of the Bondres clowns. The characters come straight out of the court life of the old kingdom days. Our troupe contains eleven topeng.
is dance by 12 – 20 women, portraying there devotions in welcoming the Gods and Goddesses that descend to Earth.
is a dance of heroism carrying bringing various weapons, danced by 12-20 peoples, depicting protection and preparedness of the community.
these solo dance is the basic training and rite of passage for any serious male dancer. Great strength, stamina and skill are required in the proper execution of this dance. The drum of the gamelan is the heartbeat for the Baris, so the dancer and drummer must merge for the Baris to truly explode.
long trembling demon-like claws, Jauk comes to life as a truly menacing presence. As a master manipulator Jauk intimidates and teases musicians and audience, playing all in this trance between tensions.
To the balinese the music is like the wind – which carries the higher creative spirits to ignite and dance the bodies of the performamers. Tri pusaka sakti is blessed and it dancers empowered to house such a wide variety of balinese musical styles and possibilities.
comparing styles of music with the weather, the Kebyar is equivalent to a thunder and lightning storm with hard rains and wild winds.
Born with the turning of the tide (DUTCH RULE) north Bali sparked with a new renaissance of cultural creativity. Kebyar was birthed to reflect and sound the new island mood, complex with violent shifts, highly energetic, dynamic, defiant and revolutionary.
Extreme opposite to Kebyar is the sweet, subtle, fairy-like sounds of this quartet of metallophones. Gender Wayang is the accompaniment to the most ancient of arts – Wayang Kulit. Its soothing melodies is also the musical companion to the other classics like the Gambuh and Wayang Wong.
This iron Gamelan ensemble provides the sounds for sacred occasions for it clearly invokes the sense of mystery. Its ancient source, appropriately so remains unknown, but its magical melody rises like prayers to attract ancestral spirits and the blessed presence of the gods and goddesses. The Rejang dancers seem carried by the music – floating smoothing in the mood of meditative serenity.
The sweetest, most refined sounds of a gamelan are heard through this orchestra. Much of the musical compositions of these bronze metallophones came from the Gambuh stories however Semara Pagulingan classic dance companion is the Legong Kraton, best experienced within a palace setting.
As Semara Pagulingan is to the palace Genggong is to the street, Fuelled by liquor and leisure time, a group of guys with the Balinese equivalent of Jewish Harps – play and dance in spontaneous response to whatever is happening socially or politically. A kind of rap session where humor rules.
Gandrangan Music is the traditional music who is a few living in Bali on this period. Gandrangan is traditional from Bamboo material instrument was living when Bali was a kingdom. The Gandrangan music was popular as the music for “Joged Pingitan Dance”.