BALINESE DANCE AND MUSIC IN RELATION TO HINDUISM

Balinese traditional dance and music are imbued with the values, cultural identity and artistic expression of the Balinese, with close links to the hindu religion. Balinese hindus in particular strongly believe that dance and music are mediums to bring them closer tothe gods. In Bali, religion, art and culture are fused together in daily life. For the balinese, no religius ceremony is complete without the presence of art and culture. Equally as important as dance and music, living in harmony with the environment for the sake of human survival is another strong conviction among the people of Bali. In addition to music and dance performances, nature is believed to hold many supernatural powers which cannot be understoot by mankind. People are expected to maintain is harmonious relantionship between all elements. This is why dance and music are continuously maintained and developed over time. The strong adherence if the Balinese people to hinduism contributes to the preservation of traditional dance and music so that these traditions may never be lost