Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Anies Baswedan handed over a certificate declaring the three genres of Balinese traditional dances as being part of the UNESCO list at the opening of the 38th Bali Art Festival here on Saturday (June 11).
The festival was opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Bajra Sandhi Peoples Struggle Monument on Saturday evening.
The three genres of Balinese traditional dances are: sacred dance, Bebali which is semi sacred, and Balih-balihan or dance for the show.
Bebali dance is a sacred dance performed in the central courtyard of a temple as part of any ceremony.
The Bebali dance usually involves depiction of a scene. These dances include, among others, Topeng Sidhakarya, Dramatari Gambuh and Dramatari Wayang Wong.
The Balih-Balihan dance is a commonly seen form of entertainment and is performed outside the temple or at any other venue.
The three Bali Traditional Dances were actually registered as UNESCO cultural heritage in 2011, but their formal inclusion could be only realized in 2016.
Indonesia now has seven cultural elements in the List of UNESCOs Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The other six elements registered in the past are: Wayang (2008), Kris (2008), Batik (2009), Angklung (2010), Saman Dance (2011), and Noken Papua (2012).
(Reported by Aditya Ramadhan/Uu.B003/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
