They say, “Dancing with the feet is one thing and dancing with the heart is another.”
Dance is known to be the most beautiful form of expressing yourself. It
is a highly liberating activity and infuses a lot of fun element to an
otherwise boring workout schedule. True dancing is not about how well
you perform, but is more about how much you enjoy it and feel good about
it.
Bali
offers a lot of dance classes and workshops which not only teaches how
to dance properly but also brings a lot closer to the culture where the
dance is originally from. These dance classes will be a refreshing
experience for a newbie, and the dance instructors are extremely
patient. They will make sure you have a wonderful time and a good
insight on the cultural aspects of the dance styles. In case you are a
fast learner, they might even let you join their group to perform in
front of a real audience on a real stage. Nerves aside, it could be a
once-in-a-lifetime unforgettable experience.
Balinese
Balinese dance is beautiful and unique, and is closely connected to religious rituals. Dancers use all parts of the body, including their faces and eyes. Hand gestures are very important. The “Legong Dance” is one of Bali’s most refined and feminine forms, typically performed by young girls who use intricately choreographed movements, manipulating their bodies, fingers, and faces to accompany music. This dance form traces its origins to the 19th Century. History says that when Prince Sukawati was ill; he had a vivid dream that portrayed two maidens performing this type of Balinese dance to gamelan music. After he recovered, this form of dance became a part of Balinese culture.
Balinese dance is beautiful and unique, and is closely connected to religious rituals. Dancers use all parts of the body, including their faces and eyes. Hand gestures are very important. The “Legong Dance” is one of Bali’s most refined and feminine forms, typically performed by young girls who use intricately choreographed movements, manipulating their bodies, fingers, and faces to accompany music. This dance form traces its origins to the 19th Century. History says that when Prince Sukawati was ill; he had a vivid dream that portrayed two maidens performing this type of Balinese dance to gamelan music. After he recovered, this form of dance became a part of Balinese culture.
Girls
from age of five aspire to perform Legong dance, and girls at the age
of fourteen usually take retirement from this dance form. The dance
performance is usually up to two hours with dancers dressed in silk
cloth, blanketed with gold brocade, Jepun flowers, and ornamental gold
leaf dripping. Makeup for these dancers display black painted eyebrows,
thickly powdered faces with a white dot.
Balinese
dance classes can be seen all over Bali, and they are conducted
regularly. You do not have to carry a lot of things to these classes as
you will be provided with the sash and sarong. However, for the entire
Balinese costume, you need to pay a little more. So, dress up, dance and
get yourself clicked. The effort is worth it.
In Hotel Tugu Bali,
the Balinese dance class is also available for children. The class is
held every Sunday at 3PM. The skilled students will have the chance to
perform what they learn in the class on Bale Agung Garuda stage at Hotel
Tugu Bali.
Salsa
Bali also conducts dance classes for Salsa, owing to the popularity and demand. This Latin origins dance is a lively, sensual dance with basic steps that make it easy for beginners to pick up. The basic Salsa dance rhythm consists of taking three steps for every four beats of music. The odd number of steps creates the intrinsic rhythm to the Salsa dancing and ensures that it takes eight beats of music to loop back to a new sequence of steps. You just need to be comfortable with your dance partner and follows the four basic steps of Salsa, which is closed dance position, good posture, hip movement and a fast tempo Salsa song.
Bali also conducts dance classes for Salsa, owing to the popularity and demand. This Latin origins dance is a lively, sensual dance with basic steps that make it easy for beginners to pick up. The basic Salsa dance rhythm consists of taking three steps for every four beats of music. The odd number of steps creates the intrinsic rhythm to the Salsa dancing and ensures that it takes eight beats of music to loop back to a new sequence of steps. You just need to be comfortable with your dance partner and follows the four basic steps of Salsa, which is closed dance position, good posture, hip movement and a fast tempo Salsa song.
The
instructors will uncomplainingly guide you through these basics, and
you will have the best fun time with your dance partner. They will also
explain the meanings behind the individual postures and gestures that
comprise the basics of Salsa. It is a wonderful way to expand your
knowledge while enjoying a bit of exercise.
In
Salsa, the dress requires the dancer to be bright or graphic but with a
sense of comfort as things get heated up during the dance. Men usually
wear button down shirts with Jeans or Slacks, and women go for club top
or cami with skinny jeans. Sleeveless tops and strappy dresses work the
best for women on the dance floor. Most important to Salsa dancing are
good dance shoes. The suede-bottomed shoes designed for salsa may not be
fashionable but are recommended while dancing, as they give you the
freedom to move around and prevent slowdown of your movements while
dancing.
There are so many Salsa classes in Bali.
Private class is the fastest way to learn, while in a group class you
can share the lesson with people in the same passion. It will cost
around IDR 200,000 – 300,000 per hour lesson. Alternatively, you can go
for a free class every week where Salsa party is taking place.
Tango
Tango is a vibrant and playful dance from Argentina. It has very rich potential for expression, improvisation and connection, either danced in both modern and traditional styles. In tango, there is a ‘leader’ and ‘follower’. Like the symbols of yin and yang, the roles of leader and follower each have a little of the other within them. Tango is a collaborative process, which encourages the development of sensitivity, clarity, trust and respect. Since this dance form is quite intimate and passionate, it is best to get your beloved on the dance floor to enjoy a romantic time.
Tango is a vibrant and playful dance from Argentina. It has very rich potential for expression, improvisation and connection, either danced in both modern and traditional styles. In tango, there is a ‘leader’ and ‘follower’. Like the symbols of yin and yang, the roles of leader and follower each have a little of the other within them. Tango is a collaborative process, which encourages the development of sensitivity, clarity, trust and respect. Since this dance form is quite intimate and passionate, it is best to get your beloved on the dance floor to enjoy a romantic time.
It
is recommended to wear lose and comfortable clothes as the postures
involve a lot of stretching and turning. Men should make sure that the
pants do not have a turned up cuff. It is very easy for a stiletto heel
to get caught here, and this is one of the few things that can bring
both partners crashing to the floor. For the ladies, it is best to wear
heels as it lends to the good posture and flexibility of foot movement.
Tight skirt at the thigh or knees should be avoided as this will prevent
from moving your legs. Since Tango is a great dance form to express
yourself on the dance floor, it is recommended that the dresses that you
wear should make you feel confident and sensual at the same time. The
clothing basically needs to elevate your mood while dancing.
If
you are into this type of dance, Tango class is available every
Saturday at Trattoria Legian and every Sunday at Zia Hotel Petitenget
between 2PM – 5PM. There will be no specific fee to join these classes,
but your small donation would be highly appreciated.
This article is also published at NOW! Bali Magazine
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