Sarongs of Bali - part 2, the dancers

Last time I talked about the sarongs that are worn in Bali everyday.  Today I am going to talk about the sarongs that are worn by dancers and musicians for ceremonies and performances.

I took the photograph above at a performance at the Royal Palace in Ubud, Bali.  The arts in Bali are part of the daily culture and I think it is safe to say most performers are excellent amateurs with different day jobs, although I know there are many professionals as well.  This appeals to me because I, too, am a serious amateur musician.  Many years I performed operettas in community theater and for the lasts eight years I have been a member of a large concert band that rehearses at the university near my home!

While there are many different Balinese dances, the base costumes are constructed the same way, which are long pieces of fabric wrapped around the body, sometimes quite tightly.

Then there are amazing collars, headdresses, belts, masks and huge animal figures similar in construction to sport mascots in the US.

I wish I could have seen the dancers preparing to perform and I wish I could have seen some of these costumes being made.  I hope to go back and I've asked my guide if he could arrange this for me on a future trip ... keep your fingers crossed.

But, I've done the next best thing, which is look for good images on line. 

This photo clearly shows how the upper body is tightly wrapped.

I tried to find images of people actually wrapping each other and I could only find the two photos below, but they give you the idea.

With such a tightly wrapped garment the dance steps, necessarily, have to be restrained. The classic body posture is a very arched back and very bent knees.  See the chart of dance poses below.

The hands are so important. To my eye it looks like the fingers are constantly flared back as far as possible.

A beautiful image of a perfect hand position.

You can see this older dancer hasn't lost her style.

Below is a performance very similar to the one I saw recorded in the exact same place I took the first photo above.  Enjoy!  

And let us not forget the men.

Here is the Gamelon orchestra entering. They, too, all wear sarongs, but now a days they are worn with a western style jacket.

Below is a video of a Kecak dance.  I saw a performance of this, as well, in Ubud.  All the music is made by the men chanting.  It involves trances and fire ... very exciting.

Please note all the men are wearing sarongs made of the black and white sacred cloth that looks like gingham to me.  And this video shows some of the large structured costumes and masks.

I, as a woman with wide Germanic hips, marvel at how beautiful, slim and elegant these Balinese ladies look in their tightly wrapped costumes.  Which makes me think how the ethnic costume in most of Europe has a narrow waist and full skirt over the hips!  I guess each culture knows what looks best.

But, finding these Youtube performances, is REALLY making me want to go back.  Of all the places we visited Bali is the one I really would like to see again. Even if it does require a too long, uncomfortable flight and hours of jet lag.