Traditions

After a brief history of Bali this chapter focuses on key areas of philosophy and religion that always impact Balinese performance culture. Balinese performance is deeply connected to religious, cultural and philosophical life, grounded in the belief that good and evil must remain in balance. Performances aim to restore harmony through ritual and symbolic action. This was especially present after the 2002 bombing, when ceremonies and performances across Bali were used to try and heal and rebalance the spiritual world. Performance is seen, especially during temple ceremonies, as an essential part of community and religious life. It is also linked to a complex calendar system that determines auspicious dates. Sacred, semi-sacred and secular performances exist in many situations, though these categories shift depending on context. There is discussion about architecture that is related to body proportions and cosmology that are reflected in performance, stressing the unity between people, nature and the holy. Trance often plays a role (although less in the modern world), allowing performers to connect with spiritual forces. Creativity in Balinese performance is understood as a development out of tradition and rarely breaking from it. Major performance forms, along with many adaptations, reflect a profound, evolving tradition where art and the relationship to religion are inseparable.