Traditional Dance in Bali: Kecak, Legong, Barong & More

The Kecak (pronounced 'ke-CHAK') is Bali's most internationally famous dance form and almost certainly the most visually and aurally dramatic performance you will witness on the island. Unlike other Balinese dances accompanied by a gamelan orchestra, the Kecak uses no musical instruments at all. Instead, a circle of 50 to 150 bare-chested male performers sit on the ground and provide the entire musical accompaniment through interlocking vocal chants of 'cak-cak-cak' at varying rhythms, pitches, and volumes. The effect is mesmerizing -- a swelling, pulsing wall of human sound that rises and falls like ocean waves. The Kecak was developed in the 1930s through a collaboration between Balinese performer I Wayan Limbak and German artist Walter Spies, who combined the trance ritual chanting of the sanghyang tradition with episodes from the Ramayana epic. The story performed typically depicts the battle between Prince Rama and the demon king Rawana, with characters including the monkey god Hanuman entering and exiting the circle of chanters. The climax often features a fire dance segment where Hanuman kicks apart a pyre of burning coconut husks with bare feet while the chanters sway and chant with increasing intensity. The most famous Kecak performance venue is the cliff-top amphitheater at Uluwatu Temple, where the dance takes place at sunset with the Indian Ocean as a backdrop. Shows run daily at 6:00 PM and tickets cost IDR 150,000 per person. Arrive by 5:00 PM to secure a good seat, as the venue fills quickly and tickets sometimes sell out. Alternative Kecak performances are held at the Padang Tegal stage in central Ubud (Tuesday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, IDR 100,000) and at Batubulan village (daily at 6:30 PM, IDR 100,000). The Ubud and Batubulan performances offer a more intimate setting with closer proximity to the performers.

The Legong is considered the most refined and technically demanding of all Balinese classical dances, traditionally performed by prepubescent girls trained from the age of five or six. The dance originated as a court entertainment in the royal palaces of Bali and is characterized by extremely precise movements, intricate finger positions, darting eye movements, and elaborate gold and green costumes adorned with frangipani flowers. Every tilt of the head, flick of the fan, and flutter of the eyes follows a precise choreographic vocabulary passed down through generations of dance masters. The most common Legong narrative is the Legong Kraton (Legong of the Palace), which tells the story of a king who captures a princess and ignores an omen of impending defeat in battle. The three dancers -- two Legong dancers and a condong (attendant) -- perform their roles with stylized grace accompanied by a full gamelan orchestra. To untrained eyes, the movements may seem repetitive, but each sequence tells part of the story through gesture language (mudra) that Balinese audiences read as clearly as words. The Pendet, in contrast, is a welcoming dance that is simpler in technique but deeply meaningful. Originally performed only in temples to welcome the gods during ceremonies, a secular version was developed for welcoming guests and audiences at cultural performances. The Pendet features female dancers carrying silver bowls of flower petals, which they scatter over the audience as a blessing. The dance is gentle, graceful, and joyous, with soft gamelan accompaniment. Other important classical dances include the Baris (warrior dance performed by a solo male dancer displaying martial prowess and courage), the Topeng (masked dance where a single performer portrays multiple characters by changing masks), and the Gambuh (the oldest surviving court dance form in Bali, rarely performed today but considered the ancestor of all Balinese classical dance). The best venues for Legong and classical dance performances include Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren), which hosts different dance troupes every evening of the week, and the ARMA Open Stage in Ubud.

The Barong dance drama is one of Bali's most important ritual performances, depicting the eternal cosmic battle between Barong (representing good, order, and protective forces) and Rangda (representing evil, chaos, and destructive forces). This is not simply a theatrical performance but a sacred ritual that connects to the Balinese philosophical understanding that good and evil exist in perpetual balance, with neither ever achieving complete victory over the other. Barong is a mythical lion-like creature operated by two dancers inside an elaborate costume with an ornate gilded mask, a luxurious fur body, and a distinctive arched tail. Different types of Barong exist (Barong Ket or lion, Barong Bangkal or boar, Barong Macan or tiger), but the Barong Ket is by far the most common in tourist performances. Barong is a benevolent, playful guardian spirit, and his appearance is greeted with delight. Rangda is the queen of the leyak (evil spirits), depicted with a terrifying mask featuring bulging eyes, protruding fangs, long disheveled hair, and a tongue of fire. In the narrative, Rangda casts a spell on Barong's followers (soldiers of the king), forcing them to turn their keris (daggers) upon themselves. Barong intervenes with protective magic that makes them invulnerable, and they press the sharp blades against their own chests in a trance-like state without drawing blood. In genuine ritual performances (as opposed to tourist shows), the trance states are real, and performers may need to be revived by priests afterward with holy water and prayers. The drama concludes without a definitive winner, reflecting the Balinese belief in the necessary balance between opposing forces. The most accessible Barong performances for visitors are held daily in Batubulan village (9:00 AM, IDR 100,000) and at several venues in Ubud. The Batubulan performance is specifically designed for tourists and includes English narration to explain the story.

The Ramayana Ballet (Sendratari Ramayana) is an extended dance drama that tells the full story of the Ramayana epic through Balinese dance, gamelan music, and elaborate costumes over the course of one to two hours. Unlike the Kecak, which depicts only selected episodes, the Ramayana Ballet presents a more complete narrative arc, from the exile of Prince Rama and the abduction of his wife Sita by the demon king Rawana, through the great battle aided by the monkey army of Hanuman, to the eventual rescue and reunion. The Ramayana Ballet combines elements of multiple dance styles -- Legong-inspired grace for the female characters, Baris-like martial movements for the warriors, comedic interludes featuring the punakawan (clown servants), and the full power of the gamelan orchestra. Performances are visually spectacular, with elaborate gold and jeweled costumes, dramatic makeup, and sophisticated lighting in permanent theater venues. In Ubud, the Ramayana Ballet is performed regularly at the Ubud Palace and ARMA Open Stage. The Devdan Show at the Nusa Dua Theatre offers a modern, Broadway-style interpretation of Indonesian cultural traditions including Balinese dance, with contemporary staging, lighting effects, and multimedia. Tickets for the Devdan Show are more expensive (IDR 500,000-1,000,000) but offer a polished, comfortable theater experience. Other narrative dance dramas include the Calon Arang (the story of a witch queen, related to the Rangda legend), the Mahabharata episodes performed during temple ceremonies, and the Wayang Wong (a dance drama where human dancers enact the stories usually told through shadow puppets). These less commercially staged performances are best encountered at temple ceremonies and village events.

Bali offers an exceptional range of dance performance venues, from tourist-oriented shows with English explanations to sacred temple performances where the audience is the gods rather than humans. For first-time visitors, the most accessible options provide a strong introduction to Balinese dance traditions. Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung) is the premier venue, hosting performances every evening from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Different dance troupes and styles rotate throughout the week: typically Legong on Monday and Friday, Barong on Tuesday and Wednesday, Kecak on Thursday, and Ramayana or mixed programs on other nights. Tickets are IDR 100,000 at the door. The courtyard setting under frangipani trees with the illuminated palace gate as a backdrop is atmospheric and intimate. Arrive by 7:00 PM for the best seats. The Uluwatu Temple amphitheater is the go-to venue for Kecak, with daily performances at 6:00 PM (IDR 150,000 plus IDR 50,000 temple entry). The sunset setting is unmatched. Batubulan village hosts the most popular morning Barong dance at 9:00 AM daily (IDR 100,000), convenient for combining with a day trip to central Bali. Other notable venues include the Ubud Water Palace (Pura Taman Saraswati), ARMA Open Stage, and Bale Banjar Ubud Kelod. Audience etiquette is straightforward but important. Dress modestly, particularly if attending a performance in a temple setting. Turn off your phone or set it to silent. Photography is generally permitted without flash, but avoid standing up or moving around during the performance, as this is disrespectful to both performers and other audience members. Clapping is appropriate at the end of a performance or between acts. If the performance is part of a religious ceremony rather than a tourist show, maintain a quiet, observant demeanor and follow the lead of Balinese audience members around you. Do not leave before the performance concludes, as early departure is considered rude.