The Bali provincial government announced earlier today that it will begin prohibiting the performance of ‘sacred’ Balinese dances for the purpose of entertainment. Officials justified the ban by saying that sacred dances should only be performed as a part of religious ceremonies.
“Sacred dances should not be performed just anywhere, especially not in hotels, or even for the sake of getting a MURI (Indonesian Museum of Records) record. [When that happens] I think it loses its sacred value,” Koster said, as reported by state news agency Antara.
Performances featuring Indonesian traditional dances are a big hit among tourists across the archipelago, and perhaps even more so on the Island of the Gods, which draws millions of foreign tourists every year. However, many dances are also integral parts of religious and sacred rituals, which are dutifully practiced by residents of the Hindu-majority island.
Balinese officials reassured the public that the move is not meant to limit creativity, but rather to preserve heritage.
“Don’t think this is our way of limiting creativity, not at all. Dance studios and groups everywhere are encouraged to continue creating art, which can certainly be based upon our traditional, sacred art, but it must also be different in its conduct and presentation,” Koster explained.
The new rule is laid out in an official agreement on strengthening and protecting the sacred dances of Bali, which was signed today by a number of officials, among them Koster, the head of Bali’s Cultural Agency, I Wayan Adnyana, and rector of the Indonesian Art Institute in Denpasar, I Gede Arya Sugiartha.
The provincial government recognizes three categories of dance: Wali (sacred), Bebali (ceremonial) and Balih-balihan (dances for entertainment). The agreement prohibits the performance of Wali dances outside of religious ceremonies. As reported by Kumparan, there are 127 types of dance that fall within that category.
Despite it being an official agreement, the new rule does not actually carry sanctions as officials are expecting it to translate into a “mutual awareness” among the people. The government plans on conducting public discussions to socialize the ban.
“Sacred art is not about aesthetics, but religious values. From a survey we have done, the people of Bali want sacred dances to be preserved and protected,” I Made Bandem, who heads the advisory council on culture (Listibya) in Bali, said.
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