() is a traditional sacred

Balinese dance Balinese dance (; ''(igélan Bali)'') is an ancient dance tradition that is part of the religious and artistic expression among the Balinese people of Bali island, Indonesia. Balinese dance is dynamic, angular, and intensely expressive. Balin ...

originated from the Indonesian island of

Bali Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...

. It is based on the premise that an unseen force enters the body of an entranced performer. The force, identified as ''

hyang ''Hyang'' (Kawi language, Kawi, Sundanese language, Sundanese, Javanese language, Javanese, and Balinese language, Balinese) is a representation of the King of the gods, supreme being, in ancient Mythology of Indonesia, Java and Bali mythology. T ...

'', is an important type of spiritual entity in ancient

Indonesian mythology The mythology of Indonesia is very diverse, the Indonesian people consisting of hundreds of ethnic groups, each with their own myths and legends that explain the origin of their people, the tales of their ancestors and the demons or deities ...

. The ''sanghyang'' dances are considered sacred ritual dances and are performed exclusively at

Balinese Balinese may refer to: *Bali, an Indonesian island *Balinese art *Balinese dance *Balinese people *Balinese language *Nusa Penida Balinese * Bali Aga Balinese **Balinese script **Balinese (Unicode block) *Balinese mythology *Balinese cat, a cat bre ...

religious ceremonies.

Variants

''Sanghyang bojog''

The dancer is a man dressed like a monkey (''bojog'') and accompanied by a chorus of chanting ''sanghyang''. Before it begins, the dancer goes through the phases of summoning ape spirits. After conceding, the dancer will jump into a tree and mimic the behavior of an ape. This dance is only found in Bugbug, Karangasem.

''Sanghyang celeng''

This is a ''sanghyang'' dance variant only found in Duda, Karangasem, danced by a man wearing palm fiber clothing. The dancer mimics the movements of a pig.

''Sanghyang dedari''

''Sanghyang dedari'' is a dance performed by pre-pubescent girls, similar in some ways to the ''

legong Legong ( Balinese: , ''légong'') is a form of Balinese dance. It is a refined dance form characterized by intricate finger movements, complicated footwork, and expressive gestures and facial expressions. Origins Legong probably originated in ...

'' dance. Often, the girls are carried on the shoulders of men; trance is associated with this

ritual A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...

''Sanghyang deling''

This dance is performed by a pair of pre-pubescent girls who are entered by the spirit of Goddess Sri (Goddess of Fertility). Each dancer holds a tree linked to a thread, where two suspended dolls are made from a lontar leaf called ''deling''.

''Sanghyang grodog''

This is danced by 23 people, each of whom has a different character.

''Sanghyang jaran''

''Sanghyang jaran'' is a dance performed by boys, who ride coconut hobby horses (''

Kuda Lumping Kuda Lumping ( Javanese: ꦗꦫꦤ꧀ꦏꦺꦥꦁ, Jaran Kepang or Jathilan, Indonesian: Kuda Lumping or Kuda Kepang, English: Flat Horse) is a traditional Javanese dance originated from Ponorogo, East Java, Indonesia depicting a group of hors ...

'') in and around a fire. Trance is also associated with this ritual.

''Sanghyang sampat''

Drawn by a girl who has conceded a spirit with an intermediate broomstick (''sampat'') that is moved freely to the left and right. There is a similar dance with a piece of bamboo, called the ''sanghyang bungbung'' dance.

Gallery

File:Sanghyang dedari dance.jpg, ''Sanghyang dedari'' File:Sanghyang Deling.jpg, ''Sanghyang deling'' File:Sanghyang Jaran Fire Dance.jpg, ''Sanghyang jaran''

References

External links

Youtube video of Sanghyang

Sanghyang-Jaran-Dance

Balinese culture Theatre of Indonesia Traditional drama and theatre of Indonesia Dances of Bali Sacred dance Spirit possession {{Dance-stub