Full make-ups, artistic costumes, impressive moves, and great performance. You can expect all this from a Balinese dance performance

For centuries,Balinese families raised their children to blend their life with arts, including dance. Boys and girls are taught how to dance. It is part of their culture, and holds a religious significance in Hinduism rituals at the Pura. The dance is an offering to the Gods.

The best place to watch dances are in Ubud. At show times, the faces of Balinese dancers are totally made-up. Thick powders, repainted eyebrows, bright lips, and frangipanis on their heads, give an aura of majesty and theatrics to their performances

There are several dances including Pannyembrahma, Pusparesti, Pendet, Baris, and Topeng. The most recognized is the Legong dance. Legong Kraton is a dance performed in the ancient palaces. Performed with tight but spectacular costumes, it is amazing to see dancers move in unison in stylized movements. All to the quickening rhythm of the gamelan. Catch a night performance in an ancient Kraton. The setting will be spectacular.

Kecak is a dance where hundreds of men use their voices to accompany the retelling of the Ramayana.. Rawana kidnaps Sinta, the wife of Rama. Rama then saves his wife accompanied by Sugriwa, the king of monkeys and his monkey army. The men form a ring around costumed dancers and move hypnotically to act as backdrop, characters, and chorus. The most spectacular setting is at Tanah Lot where up to a thousand players perform at the same time.

8-40 men perform Tari Baris. It tells the story of power and courage of soldiers. The dancers use real weapons as props

Tari Barong, is a dance using a 10-foot animal puppet, a mythical combination of lion, tiger, and cow. Despite its monstrous appearance, the Barong represents good. Its evil counterpart is the witch Rangda. Traditional dances are always performed in rituals, and odalan ceremonies at the pura. Otherwise the daily performances at Bone, Batu Bulan and Ubud are well staged although a little commercialized.