A Pictoral Intro to Balinese Dance

Here I am, dancing the Topeng Dalem at the Santa Barbara Multicultural Dance and Music Festival, August 2004. Topeng means 'mask', or more precisely, 'something that covers' (from the root tup 'to close'). In Bali, it mostly refers to a drama danced by a single dancer who dons various masks that represent abstract character types rather than specific characters - specific names and references are given during the drama's exposition. Topeng Dalem portrays a refined king, and the dance is quite calm in nature, even with its rather (musically) strong climax. (Thanks to Jim Belesley for the photo.)