Trance dances in Bali

When you say ‘trance dance’ one might imagine western tourists out of their head at Double Six at 4am. Bali has a selection of trance dances that go way back before Double Six, and that are not open for westerners.

The intense culture and mythological beliefs in Bali sound like something out of a National Geographic episode, and when you witness one you have to pinch yourself, to remember this is the 21st Century.

In all liklelihood, the sacred Balinese dances were in existence centuries ago, products of the island’s original inhabitants. They have been modified over the centuries, by the arriving cultural influences from India. One element of the trance dances, the fact that the dancer’s body is taken over by divine spirits suggest a link to the ancient Balinese customs and to the Bali Aga villages.

There are 2 type of sacred dances; those performed in the jaba tengah (middle courtyard of the temple) and those perfomed in the jeroan (inner courtyard), of a pura (Balinese temple). The majority of the dances are associated with particular rituals such as the temple’s odalan, which occurs every 210 days.

A set of special trance dances are the Sanghyang. In each of these separate dances, a divinity will take possesion of the dancers body for the duration. For example, the sanghyang dedari-dedari is used to protect the village against bad events like a famine, very animist.

The sanghyang dedari-dedari is danced by 2 virgin girls, who tell the demi-goddess Widedari to posses them. The sanghyang deling dance performed in Kintamani is also performed by 2 female virgins, who hold the ends of a long string, hanging from which are 2 dolls. As the girls become possessed, the dolls begin to dance. This is followed by the trance induced girls dancing on glowing embers. Finally, the girls are hosited onto the shoulders of 2 male villagers, and stand, being held only at the ankles. They are taken to the 4 corners, and central crossroads of the village, dancing in trance the whole way. The trance is over when the 2 girls are taken to the local temple, and revived with holy water and prayers.

I have seen a trance ceremony, at the junction of Jl. Legian and Jl. Padma, as part of a funeral ceremony. To us it may seems wierd, but all over Bali, in the towns and small villages, people take it seriously.