The proposal’s been in the works for years, but we’re supposed to finally know this November if nine Balinese dances will get approved for UNESCO World Heritage recognition.
Education and Culture Ministry’s director general of culture, Kacung Marijan, says UNESCO will make the big announcement in November 2015, after it’s discussed in a hearing in Namibia.
“We ask for the prayers of all involved parties that it will hopefully be set (as a world cultural heritage),” Marijan said in Denpasar earlier this month, as quoted by Antara.
Marijan says he hasn’t gotten wind of any leaks about the dances’ approval, so the ministry can only hope.
The nine dances under consideration by UNESCO are Barong Ket, Joged, Legong Keraton, Drama Wayang Wong dance, Drama Gambuh dance, Topeng Sidakarya, Baris Upacara, Sanghyang dance and Rejang.
If approved, these dances would join the ranks of recognition that subak (Bali’s terraced rice field irrigation system) has already achieved.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
