Bali is one of the regions in Indonesia that has a variety of arts and cultures that continue to be preserved to this day. All these forms of art will naturally attract the attention of local and foreign tourists who visit Bali. One of them is the traditional dance, which has beautiful movements that always attract the eyes. Dances that are usually performed, also have their own stories and functions, such as welcoming ceremonies, religious ceremonies, etc.
Some traditional dances that Bali has are part of a culture that, to this day, has attracted many tourists to enjoy. One of the examples is Tari Kecak, a traditional dance performed by dozens of male dancers in a circle position by saying “cak” with a certain rhythm and raising their hands. The clothes worn by the dancers are in the form of sarongs and checkered cloth that have black and white colors that look like a chessboard which is tied around the waist. Tari Kecak is one of the most sacred dances that Bali has, and it has been famous until now.
The name Tari Kecak itself comes from the shouting of words in the form of “cak, cak, cak” which is called out by the dancers when the dance is performed. In addition, the dancers are also accompanied by music in the form of rattles. The sound arises from the rattles that are tied to the dancer’s feet when they are performed. This dance is performed by taking some parts of the Ramayana story that save Sita from Rahwana. Usually, when Tari Kecak is performed, the audience will also be included in the performance.
Another example of dance that Bali also has is Tari Legong, which reflects the elegance, beauty, and skill of the dancers. Usually, this dance will be performed during traditional ceremonies or when welcoming guests from the outside. The word Legong itself comes from the word “leg” which means flexible dance movements, and “gong” which means gamelan. So, Legong itself means dance movements that are accompanied by Gamelan Semar Pagulingan.
Tari Legong is usually performed by two teenage female dancers who have not experienced puberty, and they dance in the palace surroundings and right under the sun. In addition, the unique characteristic of this dance can be seen in the dancers who carry a hand fan as a supporting property. Tari Legong is performed at religious ceremonies, which is a form of expression of gratitude of Balinese people to their ancestors for all the blessings they have received, such as sustainability, health, and others. However, as time goes by, Tari Legong is not only performed as an expression of gratitude but also as a welcoming dance to attract tourists to visit Bali.
With the variety of cultures and arts in the area, the preservation of these cultures must be applied so that they are not consumed by time in the future. One of them can be joining a regional dance class that will give you the experience of how beautiful dance movements must be preserved in the future. Hotel Tugu Bali is one of the hotels in Bali that recounts the most romantic tales, folklore, and legends of Indonesia and has the mission to preserve the culture to be enjoyed by others. Following this mission, Hotel Tugu Bali offers you the opportunity to preserve Balinese culture by joining Balinese dance classes. For more detailed information, you can visit our official website at www.tuguhotels.com and take your chance to enjoy and preserve beautiful culture.
