Balinese Dance

Bali is famous the world over for its vibrant performing art forms – gamelan and Balinese dance – learnt via an oral tradition passed on from generation to generation to this very day. In fact, there are perhaps more musicians and dancers per capita in Bali than in any other part of the world.
In saying this, it may come as a surprise to you that many forms of Balinese dance and gamelan are desperately endangered. Over the last forty years, Bali has been overwhelmed by a misdirected tourist industry and unregulated development, resulting in rapid cultural transformation. This has had a grave effect on the traditional repertoires of music and dance, which are now being forgotten by the current generation of Balinese.
Concerned with the possibility of losing some of these unique, inherited art forms, in the year 2000 an association called Mekar Bhuana was established. Their primary goal is to preserve rare classical Balinese dance and gamelan, in particular Semara Pagulingan, Pelegongan and Gender Wayang. The association is made up of enthusiastic members of the Balinese community, including talented musicians and dancers, working together with specialist gamelan and Balinese dance teachers to revive and re-popularize these wonderful art forms.