Sanghyang Dedari

Bali, Jan 2005

Sanghyang dance develoved from the essential religius funtion of maintaining the health and well - being of the village. They are performed drive evil spirit away and stop them infesting the community in the form of sickness or death.

Described here is Sanghyang Dedari, a ritual where it is believed a devine spirit temprorarily descends to a cillager and reveals it self through the entranced dancer. Sanghyang is the title a divine spirit and means "holiness" dedari means 'angels" and describes the Trance ceremony. Dance by two little girls who are always underage. for a virgin child is concidered holy. In the Sarghyang, where the dancers are put into trance prior to dancing. the ceremony begins in the temple and a procession is formed to march to the place where will take place. Set upon the ground between female choir and male chorus. The a little dancers away freely in a dreamy version of the legong.

Their movements coincide utomatically, although their ayes never open during the entire performance. When the chanting stops, the girls jump to the ground. They are brought out of trsnce by the pemangku, who prays beside them and blesses them with holy water.

I actually took the picture of both girls dancing together, but it didn't turn out so well. So I just cut the bad part out. Quite surprise considering the other photos from the Kecak dance turned out ok even with the torch-thingy at the back of every object. Maybe it was too dark when I took this photo.

I don't know, I've been using this camera for 6 years now and I'm still no expert. Just point and click and hope for the best.