Sanghyang (Balinese: ᬲᬂᬳ᭄ᬬᬂ​) is a traditional sacred Balinese dance originated from the Indonesian island of Bali. It is based on the premise that an unseen force enters the body of an entranced performer. The force, identified as hyang, is an important type of spiritual entity in ancient Indonesian mythology.

Sanghyang
The sacred Balinese dance Sanghyang dedari involves girls being possessed by hyangs
Native nameᬲᬂᬳ᭄ᬬᬂ​ (Balinese)
Tari Sanghyang (Indonesian)
GenreSacred dance
Instrument(s)Gamelan, Suling, Kendhang
InventorBalinese
OriginIndonesia
Three genres of traditional dance in Bali
A Sanghyang Jaran dance performance in Ubud, Bali
CountryIndonesia
Reference617
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2015

Wali Sacred Dances (Rejang, Sanghyang Dedari, Baris Upacara), Bebali Semi sacred Dances (Topeng Sidhakarya/Topeng Pajegan, Gambuh dance drama, Wayang Wong dance drama), Balih-balihan Entertainment Dances (Legong Kraton, Joged Bumbung, Barong Ket)

The sanghyang dances are considered sacred ritual dances and are performed exclusively at Balinese religious ceremonies.[1][need quotation to verify]

Variants

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Sanghyang bojog

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The dancer is a man dressed like a monkey (bojog) and accompanied by a chorus of chanting sanghyang. Before it begins, the dancer goes through the phases of summoning ape spirits. After conceding, the dancer will jump into a tree and mimic the behavior of an ape. This dance is only found in Bugbug, Karangasem.[1]

Sanghyang celeng

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This is a sanghyang dance variant only found in Duda, Karangasem, danced by a man wearing palm fiber clothing. The dancer mimics the movements of a pig.[1]

Sanghyang dedari

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Sanghyang dedari is a dance performed by pre-pubescent girls, similar in some ways to the legong dance. Often, the girls are carried on the shoulders of men; trance is associated with this ritual.[1]

Sanghyang deling

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This dance is performed by a pair of pre-pubescent girls who are entered by the spirit of Goddess Sri (Goddess of Fertility). Each dancer holds a tree linked to a thread, where two suspended dolls are made from a lontar leaf called deling.[1]

Sanghyang grodog

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This is danced by 23 people, each of whom has a different character.[2]

Sanghyang jaran

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Sanghyang jaran is a dance performed by boys, who ride coconut hobby horses (Kuda Lumping) in and around a fire. Trance is also associated with this ritual.[1]

Sanghyang sampat

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Drawn by a girl who has conceded a spirit with an intermediate broomstick (sampat) that is moved freely to the left and right. There is a similar dance with a piece of bamboo, called the sanghyang bungbung dance.[1]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Sanghyang Dedari". BabadBali.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2011-09-18. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  2. ^ Putra Setiawan (2016-08-22). "Sang Hyang Grodog, Tari Sakral Yang Melegenda di Nusa Lembongan". BeritaBali.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
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