Bali Art Festival Opens (6/10/2012)

The Bali Arts Festival is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other related cultural and commercial activities during which literally the whole of Bali comes to the city to present its offerings of dance, music and beauty. On display are trances from remote mountain slopes, forgotten or recently revived village dances, food and offering contests, classical palace dances, stars of Balinese stage, odd musical performances, "kreasi baru" (new creations) from the dance schools of Denpasar, as well as contemporary choreography and dance companies from other islands and from abroad.

It is a month long revelry that perhaps no other place in the world can put up on such a low budget as the Balinese. Not only is their traditional culture alive and well, but they have a tremendous pride in it.

It begins in the villages, where the seka or cultural groups are selected and organized at the regency level, vie with each other to perform the Arts Festival and thus display in front of a large audience the uniqueness of their village of birth and resting place of their ancestors.

The Bali Arts Festival is the Denpasar cultural event of the year, perhaps it would no be too far fetched to suggest that it is the cultural event of Indonesia. The festival is thus a unique opportunity to see local village culture both "live" and at first hand. Tourists are warmly welcomed.

The festivities commenced with a grand parade on Sunday afternoon, opened with the striking of a tradition wooden bell or okokan by the President at the Puputan Field in Renon, Denpasar. This marked the start of a parade past the presidential grandstand that featured thousands of artists from across Bali who danced and performed music and dance down the streets of Bali’s capital, many using motorized floats. Also joining the parade were artists from across the Indonesian archipelago and visiting foreign performers who will participate in the month long festival.

2012 Program - Layout of Art Centre

Monday, June 11 2012 Activity : Opening Parade Of The 34th Bali Arts Festival 2012 Time : 2 PM Place : In Front of the Balinese People Struggle Monument "Bajra Sandi" Renon Denpasar Activity : Opening Ceremony Of The 34th Bali Arts Festival 2012, and Oratorium Purusadha Santa Performance by the Bali Provincial Government arranged by Institut Seni Indonesia Denapsar Time : 8 PM Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra Tuesday, June 12 2012 Activity : Special Dance Performance from Paguyuban Sadulur Belitar (GUSTAR) Time : 11 AM Place : Angsoka stage Activity : Special Dance Performance from Palangkaraya Time : 4 PM Place : Angsoka Stage Activity : Special Dance Performance from Mataram City. Time : 8 PM Place : Angsoka Stage Activity : Modern Balinese Theater Performance: by SMA 1 Kuta, Badung Regencey Time : 8 PM Place : Ksirarnawa Hall Activity : Children's Gong Kebyar Exhibition Group Satya Werdi from Satriya, Pendem Village, Jembrana Regency WithBuana Giri Swara Children's Gamelan Group, Baturning Village, Mambarl, Abiansemal Sub-district, Badung Regency. Time : 8 PM Place : Open stage Ardha Candra Wednesday, June 13 2012 Activity : New Dance Creation Performance from Taman Sari Dance Group Denpasar. Time : 11.00am Place : Angsoka stage Activity : Joged Bumbung Exhibition Joged Group from Kuwum, Mambal, Marga, Tabanan Regency Time : 4 PM Place : Angsoka stage Activity : Indian Dance Performance India Culture Centre Time : 8 PM Place : Ayodya stage Activity : Arja Exhibition Graha Kumara Santi Group, Culik Village, Abang Sub district, Karangasem Regency. Time : 8 PM Place : Ksirarnawa Hall Activity : Women's Gong Kebyar Exhibition Mekar Suara Santi Group, Puri Kanginan Bangli Regency with Praja Nara Swari Group, Klungkung Regency. Time : 8 PM Place : Open stage Ardha Candra Thursday, June 14 2012 Activity : Gambuh Reconstruction Performance Gambuh Group from Karang Village, Nusa Penida Sub-district, Klungkung Regency. Time : 11 AM Place : Angsoka Stage Activity : Joged Bumbung Exhibition Joged Bumbung Group from Berawatangi, Melaya Sub-district, Jembrana Regency. Time : 4 PM Place : Ayodya Stage Activity : Drama Gong Exhibition Sekar Cempaka, Klungkung Regency Time : 8 PM Place : Ayodya stage Activity : Modern Drama Collaboration London University and Institute Seni Indonesia Denpasar Time : 8 PM Place Ksirarnawa Hall Activity : Adult Gong Kebyar Exhibition Alit Sundari Gamelan Group, Batuyang, Batubulan Kangin, Gianyar Regency with Gringsing Bang Group, Bangbang, Bangli Regency. Time : 8 PM Place Open Stage Ardha Candra Friday, June 15 2012 Activity : Traditional Dance and Music Bujang Sebiji Group, Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan Province Time : 11 AM Place : Angsoka Stage Activity : Parwa Reconstruction Performance Subagan Village, Karangsem Regency Time : 11 AM Place : Angsoka Stage Activity : Collosal Drama Musical Indonesian Film Artists Asscociation Bali Province Jl. Pulau Ambon no 58 Denpasar. Time : 8 PM Place : Ksirarnawa Hall Activity : Drama Gong Exhibition Puspa Anom Group, Banyuning Village, Buleleng sub-district, Buleleng Regency Time : 18.00 - 19.30 Place : Ayodya stage Activity : Chidren gong kebyar exhibition Surya Kencana Gamelan Group, Banjar Pande, Bangli With Gita Ulangan Gamelan Group, Alap Sari sub-Village, Jineng Dalem Village, Buleleng Sub-district, Buleleng Regency. Time : 8 PM Place : Open stage Ardha Candra

More update about Bali Art Festival are coming soon stay tune

Peliatan "dance and music village" of Bali

Acces :

By road: from Denpasar north-east on the Ubud road. Peliatan is a few kilometers before Ubud.

Bus and bemo: regular services from Denpasar-Kereneng and from Ubud.

The village of Peliatan, half way between Ubud and Mas. This is a small village of 6,000 is often overlooked, though it lies just 2 km south of the tourist village of Ubud on the main road. Rich in the arts, and not as full of tourists as Ubud, it is definitely a visit-particularly to the tourist whom want to their vacation whit more of dance and music.

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The village of Peliatan, half way between Ubud and Mas, is favored by visitors who want a quiet country holiday, well away from the bustle of the tourist centres. It has a number of hotels in different categories, and in the last few years one or two with a high standard of amenity have been opened.

Two of the best known Balinese dance groups are based in Peliatan, and their rehearsals, in the former princely palace of Puri Agung, are sometimes open to the public (information in Ubud).

Mas Village "woodcarvings" Bali

Mas village is strategically located in the main road from Denpasar to Ubud and it can be reached from several of angle. It is about 15 km easterly go to the majors road to Ubud from Denpasar town. If you wish to go to this place from Denpasar, the starting spandrel points step into Mas Village is Sakah, where a big baby idol monumentally existing in the middle of road. The Baby idol is a symbol and representative of human being life early which is believed by local residents with full of philosophic value, religious and dynamism.

Mas village famous as an art whit specializing in woodcarvings. Most of the prominent wood-carvers of Bali dwell in Mas village, producing elaborate and fine woodcarvings and this is where they teach the young generation to carve by imitating the master carvers.

Just enjoyed your vacation / traveling whit visit to the Mas village and collect the stuff for your collection.

Celuk "The home of jewelry" Bali

The journey from Kuta took about 40 minutes and Celuk was easy to find. Along the way I stopped at a traffic light. A friendly local pulled next to me, “Excuse me Sir are you going to Ubud, I live in Ubud.” he said. “No” I said, “I’m going to Celuk.” He followed right behind me for a couple of miles then at another light said “I have a relative in Celuk with a shop, you want to look?” I thought ‘I’m sure everyone in Bali has a relative with a silver shop in Celuk’ and told him thanks but I’d check it out alone.

Balinese jewelry is unique, and Celuk is the home of much of it. Nearly every family in Celuk is involved in some aspects of the delicate gold and silver work, which has become very famous over the years.

Balinese silversmiths are known worldwide for their intricate designs and meticulous attention to detail. Their skills are passed down from generation to generation. Many fake "Bali beads" are now being produced in other countries (India is the worst offender). These are often cheap imitations that are cast in molds rather than handcrafted as described above. Many Indian-made "Bali beads" are also merely silver plated rather than made of solid silver.

Bangli "Pura kehen" Bali

Bangli is a regency (kabupaten) of Bali, Indonesia. It has an area of 520.81 km² and population of 197,210 (2004). Its regency seat is Bangli. Up till 1907, Bangli was one of the nine kingdoms of Bali. The capital has a famous Hindu temple, the Pura Kehen, which dates from the 11th century. Bangli also has one nice village, lies surround a hill, Demulih. From the Demulih hill, we can see a vast majority of Bali Island, particularly on its Southern part - Kuta, Nusa Dua, Gianyar and apart of Klungkung. And this is the only county in Bali without beaches. Geographically, Bangli is home to the mountain lakes and water sources that make Bali so fertile.

The town of Bangli, once the capital of a kingdom, descended from the early Gelgel Dynasty, the largest and most sanctified temple of the district is Pura Kehen, a mountain haven and state temple of Bangli
Here the air is fresh and cool compared with other counties in Bali. Bali's main psychiatric hospital is located on the road, which runs westwards from the center of town.

As the state temple of the Bali Kingdom, Pura Kehen occupies the site of an earlier temple, which dates back to the 9th Century. It owes much of its appeal to its unique ambience, set majestically on a number of level against the background of a hill forest, large trees shade the shrines and gates of its courtyards.

A flight of 38 stairs leads to the meru-shaped gate between rows of wayang statues. Overlooking the gate is the threatening head of Kala, guardian of the netherworld. There is a magnificent shrine with eleven roofs dedicated to the God of Fire, the resident temple God.

Galungan Bali

Galungan is a Balinese holiday that occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan is the last day of the holiday. Galungan means "When the Dharma is winning." During this holiday the Balinese gods visit the Earth and leave on Kuningan.

Occurring once in every 210 days in the pawukon (Balinese cycle of days), Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves. A "penjor"

Although Galungan falls on a Wednesday, most Balinese will begin their Galungan 'holiday' the day before, where the family is seen to be busily preparing offerings and cooking for the next day. While the women of the household have been busy for days before creating beautifully woven 'banten' (offerings made from young coconut fronds), the men of our village usually wake up well before dawn to join with their neighbours to slaughter a pig unlucky enough to be chosen to help celebrate this occasion. Then the finely diced pork is mashed to a pulp with a grinding stone, and moulded onto sate sticks that have been already prepared by whittling small sticks of bamboo. Chickens may also be chosen from the collection of free-range chickens that roam around the house compound. Delicate combinations of various vegetables, herbs and spices are also prepared by the men to make up a selection of 'lawar' dishes. While much of this cooking is for use in the offerings to be made at the family temple, by mid-morning, once all the cooking is done, it is time for the first of a series of satisfying feasts from what has been prepared. While the women continue to be kept busy with the preparations of the many offerings to be made at the family temple on the day of Galungan, the men also have another job to do this day, once the cooking is finished. A long bamboo pole, or 'penjor', is made to decorate the entrance to the family compound. By late Tuesday afternoon all over Bali the visitor can see these decorative poles creating a very festive atmosphere in the street.

On Wednesday, the day of Galungan, one will find that most Balinese will try to return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. This is a very special day for families, where offerings are made to God and to the family ancestors who have come back to rest at this time in their family temple. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well, and to the homes of other families who may have helped the family in some way over the past six months.

The day after Galungan is a time for a holiday, visiting friends, maybe taking the opportunity to head for the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still seen to be in their 'Sunday best' as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.

The date for Galungan and other special Balinese days is shown on the Balinese Calendar.

Bali Traditional market

Bali is known as a treasure house of interesting goods to buy. Products of various kinds from traditional antiques to the latest quality fashions in extraordinary displays await the shoppers. It is quite common to bargain in markets, shops and art shops for buyers, so having a good price is partly dependent upon one's smartness in bargaining. Splendid local hand woven materials, silver and gold works, woodcarvings, garments and many other interesting things can be found at any market or art market. You will find that shops selling similar items are generally grouped together. This makes comparing prices easy as you just have to go next shop to find the something. Remember to bring your cash, as not all places accept credit cards.

Denpasar
The Kumbasari Market near the river gives an interesting overview of an Indonesia market with household wares and clothing on the third level, spices and dried goods on the second level and traditional market in the basement.It can be a bit dark in the basement. Nearby is Jalan Hasanuddin, a whole street of gold shops, selling 18-22 carat gold jewelry. Not far away from jalan Hasanuddin is jalan Sulawesi where all manner of fabrics are available. The whole street consists of fabric stores on both sides with a few household ware stores in between.

Kuta
Kuta Art Market has a multitude of shops selling a wide variety of goods including, sarongs, handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, furniture and leather goods. You can find some good pieces if you look carefully and smart bargain.

Sanur
Sanur's main shopping street is Jalan Danau Tamblingan and it is more peaceful then shopping in Kuta. Sanur has an interesting variety of shops with lots of nice restaurants.There are still a few hawkers but they are not as aggressive, except at the beach market. You can find woodcarvings, sarongs and other handicrafts in Sanur Art Market.

Sukawati
Sukawati has a new art market and a traditional market on the main road and side streets. Set in a two-floor building, the market sells everything from statues to dance costumes, all at reasonable prices. A large assortment of woven baskets can be found here along with Balinese ceremonial items made from colorful "Prada" - gold painted cloth. These include dance costumes, fans, umbrellas and clothes worn at tooth filings and weddings. Bargaining is a must.

Ubud
The area of Ubud often regarded as the cultural center of Bali. It is where the image of Bali as a land of artists was created. Ubud gives you the opportunity to see the real Bali. The Ubud Market has kept much of its traditional charm, with squatting Balinese sellers haggling loudly among spices and vegetables. The market also sells handicrafts, many made in the neighboring villages of Mas, Tegalalang, and more.

Mola Mola Bali "Oceanic Sunfish"

The gigantic Bali Sunfish - Mola Mola is one of earth's most elusive creatures.

Ocean Sunfish, or Mola Mola is the largest bony fish in the world. It is a unique pelagic fish and specimen of ocean sunfish have been observed up to 3.3 meters in length and weighing up to 2.500 kg.

The ocean sunfish feeds on jellyfish and other gelatinous, soft bodied zooplankton, as well as small fish and other marine life. And mola mola habit in the water around Bali all Year round.

Mola Mola in Bali are good at anytime from June to November, so enjoyed your adventure sunfish and vacation in Bali.

Bali Legong Dance

The Legong Dance is a classic dance that has a very complex library of movement that flow along with gamelan. The word “Legong” is from the word “leg” mean elastic, elegance, and the word “gong” mean the music, so the Leg - Gong is a dance represents the epitomy of grace and femininity. The dancer has to let all the energy of the gamelan’s sounds flow to their body untill you feel shaking. The hands are the most mesmerizing, as the arms move up and about, the fingers are doing a dance of their own. They can make individual pairs of fingers flutter simultaneously, at the same time, the eyes are darting from left to right.

The story behind legong is very stylized and symbolic, involves three dancers, the two legong and their attendant, the congong. The legongs are beautifully dressed tightly with gold brocade that so surprising they can move so rapidly.

Some villages in Central and Southern Bali are considered home of the legong. They are, Peliatan, Ubud, Saba, Bedulu, Sukawati in Gianyar area, Binoh in Badung area, Kerambitan in Tabanan area, among others. These villages posses long legong traditions, and most of them still own high quality legong troupes today.

Some of Balinese dances are now labeled as 'classic'. This classic label only presented to an arts form that posses exceptional quality and endurance to survive for many generations, and legong is considered as one of them.

Meanwhile, story of the birth of the legong is no less intriguing than the legong it self. In early nineteenth century, a prince in Sukawati was in a coma condition caused by his ill. In his coma he saw two beautiful nymphs dancing a feminine and delicate dance. Not only he saw the dance, he heard the sound of music that accompanying it as well. Struck by the mysterious and beautiful sight and sound, later after his health revival, together with artists of the village, he transformed his imagination into reality. So, born the legong, another performing arts form, as a gentle touch of the arts to the already arts fertile island.

Galungan & Kuningan

Galungan and Kuningan is one of the festival in Bali. is held throughout the island and is an annual event in the wuku year. During this ten day period all the gods, including the supreme deity Sanghyang Widi, come down to earth for the festivities. Barongs prance from temple to temple and village to village. The last and most important day of the ten day festival is called Kuningan. And if we visit to Bali in August we can see it.

Bali Ngaben Cremation Ceremony

Ngaben or the Cremation Ceremony is the ritual performed to send the dead through the transition to his next life. This is one of original culture in Bali which a part of interested in Bali. If we visit to Bali for the vacation withn your lover, family or friends or meaby visit to bali for the bisnis and you meet the ngaben ceremony you will fell the magis.

The village Kul Kul, hanging in the tower of the village temple, will sound a certain beat to announce the departure of the deceased. The body of the deceased will be placed at Bale Delod, as if he were sleeping, and the family will continue to treat him as if he were still alive yet sleeping. No tears are shed, for he is only gone temporarily and he will reincarnate into the family.

The Priest consults the Dewasa to determine the proper day for the ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin which is then placed inside a sarcophagus in the form of a buffalo (called Lembu) or a temple structure called Wadah made of paper and light wood. The Wadah will be carried to the village cremation site in a procession.

The climax of Ngaben is the burning of the Wadah, using fire originating from a holy source. The deceased is sent to his afterlife, to be reincarnated in the future.

Bali Dance Calendar Events

Day	Performances	Place	Time
Sundays	Kechak Fire and Trance Dance Jegog Legong of Mahabrata Legong Dance (by Peliatan Masters) Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet Play)	Padang Tegal, Ubud Bentuyung Village Ubud Palace Arma Oka Kartini	19:00 19:00 19:30 19:30 20:00
Mondays	Kechak Fire Dance Barong andf Keris Dance Kecak Fire and Trance Dance Legong Dance	Junjungan Village Jaba Pura Padang Kerta Pura Dalem Ubud Ubud Palace	19:00 19:00 19:30 19:30
Tuesdays	Ramayan Ballet Spirit of Bali Kecak Fire and Trance Dance Legong Dance Woman Gamelan with Child Dance Wayang Kulit	Ubud Palace Jaba Pura Desa Kutuh, Ubud Jaba Pura Padang Kerta Puri Kaleran, Peliatan Ubud Water Palace Kerta Accomodation, M.F Rd	19:30 19:30 19:30 19:30 19:30 20:00
Wednesdays	Kecak Fire and Trance Dance Jegog (Bamboo Gamelan) Legong and Barong Dance Wayang Kulit	Padang Tegal, Ubud Pura Dalem, Ubud Ubud Palace Oka Kartini	19:00 19:00 19:30 20:00
Thursdays	Gabor Dance Kecak Dance Legong Dance Barong and Keris Dance Kecak Fire and Trance Dance	Ubud Palace Puri Agung, Peliatan Jaba Pura Desa Kutuh Pura Dalem Ubud Jaba Pura Padang Kerta	19:30 19:30 19:30 19:30 19:30
Fridays	Barong Dance Legong Dance Kecak Fire and Trance Dance	Ubud Palace Peliatan Village Pura Dalem, Ubud	19:00 19:30 19:30
Saturdays	Jegog (Bamboo Gamelan) Kecak Fire and Trance Dance Childrens Dance Legong Dance Legong Dance Legong Dance Wayang Kulit	Pura Taman Tirta, Desa Mas Ubud Padang Tegal, Ubud Arma Ubud Palace Ubud Water Palace Pura Dalem Puri, Peliatan Kerta Accomodation, M.F. Rd	18:00 19:00 19:00 19:30 19:30 19:30 20:00
Every 1st & 15th of the month	Gambuh Dance (The Ancient Dance Drama of Bali)	Pura Desa Batuan (11km from Ubud). Free transport from Ubud Tourist Information leaving at 6:30pm	19:00
Every Full Moon & New Moon	Kecak Dance	Arma	19:00

Kecak Dance (Monkey Dance)

The Kecak dance or monkey dance has become a very popular show with tourists to Bali.
It was choreographed for tourists and the Balinese do not put on a kecak dance for their own purposes unlike other dances.

However it does have its roots in traditional Balinese dance and music. The gamelan is not present here but is replaced by a chorus of 50 over chanting men who sit in concentric circles around a large oil lamp chanting "cak, cak, cak." (pronounced "chak"). The chant although repetitive is not monotonous. Rather it is highly structured and follows ideas from modern Balinese music with interesting variations in pitch and rhythm.

The first thing you'll notice is that there is no musical accompaniment. The gamelan is not there. Rhythm is provided by a chanting 'monkey' chorus. The polyrhythmic sound of the chanting provides the name, 'Ke-chak'.

Taken from the Ramayana it tells the story of Rama, who with the help of the monkey army, tries to rescue his wife from the hold of the evil King Rawana.

Barong Dance

The Barong Dance is a story about the struggle between good and evil. The good, by Barong Keket, a mythological beast with an immense coat of fur and gilded leather vestments and evil by the witch Rangda. Typically Barong enters first, cleverly danced by two men who form the front and rear, while the man in the front controls the mask. The mask itself is sacred and undergoes a blessing by the priest before the performance. Rangda enters soon after. The two characters engage in battle, at which point the Barong's keris-bearing followers rush in to attack Rangda. The hissing witch however, uses her magical powers to turn the keris knives in upon their owners, who subsequently fall into a trance and turn their knives upon themselves.

The Barong however uses magic to protect his followers from the knives although occassionally, the dancers do get hurt which to the Balinese is a sign of displeasure by the Gods and to be taken seriously.

At the end, the Barong triumphs and Rangda retreats to recoup her strength for the next encounter. All that is left to do is for the Pemangku, that is the priest, who sprinkles them with holy water to help the keris dancers out of their trance. The dance is lively and entertaining and not to be missed.

Arak Bali or Brem Bali

Arak Bali or Brem Bali is the most popular traditional drinks in bali. That drink (arak bali/brem bali) is similar drink like wisky or vodka whom can only for the adult. Often that Arak Bali or Brem Bali used for religous ceremonies and parties in Bali.

A producer of Arak and Brem Bali which oldest produce in Bali is Fa' Udiyana that produce since 1968. Brem Bali or Arak Bali from Fa. Udiyana have called Dewi Sri, Which served in Bali also can be found in Japan, Australia, Europe and USA.