GAMBUH

Gambuh is the oldest dance in Bali, performed only during a certain ceremony in a certain temple. From the elements of Gambuh were born many dances. Nobody knows how and when this dance was created. Most people are interested only in its dancing; the movements, the steps, the expressions of the dancers, but not the story nor the difficult Sanskrit lyrics. The number of dancers depend on the story, between 3 to 30 dancers, males and females.

Music for Gambuh is a combination of several long and big bamboo flutes, of about 1 meter long and 3 to 5 cm in diameter, to play the melody, accompanied by one or more Balinese traditional violins, the Rebabs, a couple drums, cymbals, gongs, and several other pecussion instruments.

Usually thestory of Gambuh is about Pakang Raras, some episodes derived from thenlegend which is very closely linked with the hiatory of East Javanese kingsoms during the 15th century. Gambuh is known amongst dancers as the most difficul dance. Its original stricnesss should be dance. Its elements sould be danced in its original strictness.