Trance Dance in Pemuteran
We had always heard about Trance Dances, but had not encountered one. We asked at Taman Sari hotel if any ceremonies were taking place near Permuteran. Luckily there was a trance dance, on the occasion of a person being ill. The whole family turned out to do their part. We were the only Westerners there.
The men were playing in the Gamelan, and drinking arak, and mostly it was the women and children dancing. Some people were more susceptible to going into a trance than others, but it seemed to us that they were really taken over spiritually for a time. When in a trance the others took care of the dancers, such that no one would be hurt.
The culmination of the dance is the placing the Kris ( ceremonial dagger) against their breastbone as though they wanted to stab themselves. After exhausting themselves the dancers were brought out of the trance by having holy water splashed on their face.
Every village has its customs and ceremonies. This village was in Northwest Bali, but the dance originated in Seraya ( Northeast Bali). The villagers had to move away after the volcano erupted in 1963. Be sure to ask the staff in your hotel if any ceremonies are happening, as they are happy to invite visitors to attend !
Editor’s Note
List of Pemuteran hotels.
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