Dance
is the most beautiful form of expressing yourself. It brings out the
best in you and sets you free. It is an art well-practiced and
appreciated around the globe. Balinese dance is one such enticing dance
form. Popular all over the world for its elegance and colourful nature,
this dance form is very unique, dynamic and highly stylized. A dancer
must be able to move every part of their body, from head to toe, and for
that reason, Balinese dance is easy to pick up at a tender age.
Apart
from its uniqueness, Balinese dance is also closely connected to
religious rituals. Dances are often performed at ceremonies, typically
as part of dramas, and most involve the Balinese version of the Hindu
Ramayana epic. Traditional Balinese dance forms are passed on to boys
and girls at a very young age, and training is often rigorous and
disciplined. So, it is advisable to impart Balinese dancing coaching at a
young age so that kids learn this art form with finesse and grow deeply
connected with it.
There
are places in Bali to get your kids enrolled for Balinese dance class.
In an introduction session, normally the experienced teachers gently
guide the kids to take their first Balinese dance steps. The integration
of body movements, hand and facial gestures is what makes this dance so
appealing to watch. The teachers also explain the meanings behind the
individual postures and gestures that comprise the basics of the dance.
It is a wonderful way to expand the kid’s knowledge of the Bali-Hindu
culture while at the same time enjoying and having fun.
Some resorts in Bali host dance demonstration classes for kids. In Jimbaran, Ayana Resort and Spa
is conducted a class in the open air viewing the ocean wide. The kids
are expected to get the basics lesson of Pendet Dance. It is originally a
dance of worship which was exhibited at many temples. This dance
symbolises the welcoming of the gods fall into the natural world. The
dance is a lot about the varied facial expressions and symbolized the
purity of the soul. Fresh flowers are handed to the kids while teaching,
to invoke the true devotion of the almighty. Classes are conducted for
an hour every day. The timings and fees varies according to the batch
size.
Still in the same location, Balinese dance workshop is also available at Ganesha Cultural Centre of Four Seasons Jimbaran
every Monday and Wednesday from 3PM to 4PM. Your little ones will get
traditional dance lesson almost as soon as they can walk. At first, they
can observe the impressive skills of children from Jimbaran village,
and if they fancy trying it, they can join in. This class is free of
charge for staying guests, and a small fee will apply for public. At
Ganesha Cultural Centre, your kids will get the opportunity to
personally meet and learn from Bali’s talented artists, who are
hand-picked and invited to share their knowledge and skills. This
programme represents the evolution of Ganesha Gallery as an independent
fine art gallery. This art space has been refurbished to create an
inspiring place for people and artists to connect and interact.
Not far from Jimbaran, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa conducts
Balinese dance classes every Friday from 10AM to 11AM at Lagoon Pool
Bale where the highly-experienced staff teaches the kids patiently all
the intricacies of Balinese dance forms, giving them a close look of
Bali’s cultural and artistic tradition. The Barong dance is loved by
kids where they are dressed up as dragons, monsters and other mythical
creatures.
In Canggu, Hotel Tugu
specialises in teaching kids the basics of Balinese dance before going
into specific styles. The class is held every Sunday from 3PM to 4PM and
costs IDR 100,000 per session. Local kids from the Canggu neighbourhood
can join the class for free. The skilled students will have the chance
to perform what they learn in the class on Bale Agung Garuda stage.
Most
of the workshops will not ask the kids to bring or wear anything in
particular. However, it is recommended to wear lose and comfortable
clothes as the postures involve a lot of stretching and turning.
Costumes will be provided to get the real feel of Balinese dance but
only after a few classes once they learn the basics. Sometimes the
workshop starts with a little presentation of culture, heritage and
tradition just to give an overview of the background of the dance forms.
The
classes are pretty interactive, making them a fun and quick-learning
process. Learning Balinese dance is a special takeaway, and the kids are
bound to enjoy thoroughly. As someone rightly said, “There are
shortcuts to happiness. Dancing is one of them.”
This article is also published at NOW! Bali Magazine
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