Mask Dance in Bali

Mask dance is a dance where the dancers wear masks. Masks have existed in the world since pre-historic times. It is widely used in dances that are part of traditional ceremonies or retelling of ancient stories from the ancestors. It is believed that masks are closely related to the spirits of the ancestors who are considered to be interpretations of gods. In some tribes, masks still adorn various everyday art and traditional activities.

The classic Ramayana stories and the Panji stories that have developed since hundreds of years ago became the main inspiration for the creation of masks in Java. The masks in Java are made for the performance of the ballet which tells these classic stories.