The Balinese Wayang Puppet Shadow Performances

The wayang puppet show is perhaps the most famous show in Balinese theater, albeit the most difficult to understand. Basically an epic narrative, it is the key to Bali's unique world of myths, symbol and religious beliefs. The puppet master, or dalang, tells his story by projecting the shadows of the puppets he manipulates behind a white screen and a large lamp. He plays several characters at once, shifting from Old-Javanese to High-Balinese, singing and hitting a box to mark the rhythm. A good dalang is a one-show, being in turns smart, funny and melancholic.

the dalang borrows the frame of his narrative from the great epics of the Ind-Javanese tradition, the Mahabarata and the Ramayana, although other stories may sometimes be used. He the creates his own episodes, usually concerning a hero's quest for a magical weapon, heavenly secret or partner. The Hero, accompanied by buffoons, succeeds eventually after tortuous adventure in the wilderness and fights with evil giants. The two sets of puppets - the heroes on the right, villains on the left - symbolist the eternal struggle between good and evil. But for the audience, the dalang's ability to poke fun at everyone through the mouths of the buffoons in no less important that the narrative.

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See also other Balinese Dances: Balinese Kecak Dances  Balinese Barong Dances Balinese Pendet&Panyembrama Dances Balinese Kebyar Duduk Dances Balinese Joged Bumbung Dances  Balinese Topeng Dances Balinese Legong Keraton Dances Balinese Gambuh Dances Balinese Wayang Dances  Balinese Shadow Puppet Dances

Balinese Theatrical Wayang Kulit Performance

Wayang Kulit or known as Shadow Puppet is a famous theatrical expression in Bali. Kulit means skin or leather. In a Wayang Kulit performance, shadow images are projected in a white screen with a coconut oil lamp or electrical lamp as its source of light. The stories are usually about Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabrata. But other stories from Indonesian history and myth are also performed.

The Wayang is manipulated by the puppeteer or shadow artist (Dalang) who tells the stories accompanied by Gamelan orchestra and sometimes some singing. The Gamelan players respond to the timing and direction of the Dalang. Most characters in the performance speak in language of Kawi or ancient Javanese. Indonesian audiences may not understand the language, for that, there is a translator who impart the story to a well known language.

Wayang performance that are performed at night is considered as an entertainment performance. While performance that are performed in day light without coconut lamp is considered as a religious performance. Religious Wayang performance are usually performed in a Ngaben ceremony or cremation ceremony.

More Photos:

A Dalang performing a Wayang kulit performance
Some Wayang kulit characters