Traditional Balinese Dance: Kecak, Barong & Legong

The island's mesmerising performances - and where to see them.

Bali Guide › People & Culture

Balinese dance is one of the island's great art forms - precise, expressive, and always tied to religion and story. Performances retell episodes from Hindu epics through controlled movement, darting eyes, and the shimmering sound of a gamelan orchestra.

The best known are the Kecak, chanted by a circle of dozens of men around a ring of fire; the Barong, a battle between a lion-like protector and the witch Rangda; and the graceful, intricate Legong.

Catching a performance - especially the sunset Kecak on the Uluwatu cliffs - is one of the most memorable evenings you can have in Bali.

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