01Dance & performance
Legong is the refined, precise classical court dance most people picture first; the Barong dance tells the story of a mythical lion-like protector spirit battling the witch Rangda; and Kecak — the famous "monkey chant" performance, often staged at Uluwatu at sunset — uses a chanting male chorus instead of gamelan instruments. All three are still performed regularly for both ceremonial and public audiences.
02Gamelan music
The traditional percussion ensemble behind most Balinese dance and ceremony, built mainly from bronze metallophones, gongs and drums, tuned in a way that sounds distinctly different from Western scales. Live gamelan accompanies most temple ceremonies and formal dance performances — worth experiencing live rather than recorded if you get the chance.
03Visual arts & craft villages
- Mas — woodcarving, from mass-market souvenirs to genuinely skilled fine art pieces.
- Celuk — silver and gold jewellery, with workshops open for demonstrations.
- Batubulan — stone carving, visible along the main road in the form of temple guardian statues in progress.
- Tenganan (East Bali) — one of Bali's oldest villages, known for double-ikat weaving found almost nowhere else in the world.
04Where to see it authentically
Ubud's Puri Saren Palace hosts regular evening dance performances aimed at a general audience but still performed by serious local troupes. For something less staged, temple odalan ceremonies (see our festivals guide) often include dance and gamelan as part of the ritual itself, not a show.