Today’s Gamelan performance is a great presentation of Balinese culture.

The first thing that I want to mention is the costume shown today. The male costumes contain beige kerchief and skirt with certain pattern. The female costumes include blue skirt with a golden flower attached to the performers’ heads. All shining dresses and percussion instruments together, I think, suggest Balinese’s cultural feature and its preference toward golden color. They are so beautiful.

I wonder why the man splashes water to all the performers before they play; and I guess it is probably a special ritual that would bring blessing to people. It reminds me of an ethnic group called Dai minority in China. They have a special festival called Water Splashing Festival. In that day, they will bath the Buddha first, and then they start splashing water with one another for wishing luck, happiness and health.

Today’s Balinese dance pendet presented in the performance is very unique. The two female dancers wear fancy golden dress with pinkish decoration. their dance focus more on the movement of hands and fingers, as well as neck and eyes. Also, the dancers do not stand straight but squat slightly like weight lifters; and they walk with this pose too. I also notice that they move their eyes and head from side to side once in a while. All these distinctive features of Balinese dance distinguish it from the modern dance, and tap dance we watched before.

I appreciate this performance for it introduces me Indonesia’s striking culture that I have never seen before. I am looking forward more cultural exhibit in our campus or in the city.