Visit the 32nd Bali Arts Festival

The annual month-long Bali Arts Festival happens from June 12 until July 12 this year, with the theme being the International Ramayana Festival. Visitors to Bali during this period can expect more than 180 performances by an estimated 15,000 artists from around Bali as well as foreign countries. Among those who have confirmed their attendance are groups from China, India, Japan, Sweden, and the USA.

The Bali Arts Festival is a good starting point for understanding and appreciating Balinese culture. Held at the Werdi Budaya Art Center in Jalan Nusa Indah, Denpasar, the various performance venues within the centre come to live from 10am daily with stalls selling handicraft and food from the various regencies of Bali, as well as other activities such as screenings of documentaries, fashion shows, and competitions of flower arrangement and cooking. From mid-morning, performances include a range of music and dance forms unique to the island. Nightly performances include the classical and traditional dances of the island, mime dances, dance dramas, and even modern theatre.

The festival is kicked off at 2pm on June 12 with an opening procession of Balinese in their regional traditional outfits accompanied by gamelan orchestra from Jalan Surapati to the outdoor Ardha Candra amphitheatre within the Werdi Budaya Art Center.

Started in 1979 by Professor Ida Bagus Mantra (Bali governor 1978-1988), who stated that "the Bali Arts Festival should take its place as the basic forum for the growth of our love of the arts.", most of the performances have remained free of charge to the public so that everyone can be a part of this huge celebration.

For more about the Bali Art Festival, visit http://www.baliartsfestival.com/