The
Sanghyang is a divine force that enters the bodies
of the entranced dancers. There are a number of
Sanghyang dances, but the most common are the
Sanghyang Dedari and the Sanghyang Jaran. The
Sanghyang Dedari is performed by two girls, and
is very similar in style to the Legong; the main
difference is that the Sanghyang Dedari girls
are supposedly untrained and can keep in perfect
time with each other, even though their eyes are
firmly shut.
The accompanying music is provided by a female
choir and a male Kecak choir.
In the Sanghyang Jaran, a boy dances around and
through a fire, riding a coconut palm hobbyhorse.
This is frequently called the 'Fire Dances' for
the sake of tourist. In both dances, a priest
is always on hand to help bring the dancers out
of their trance-state at the end of performance. |
