Dance & Drama in Bali

Rating:
Summary: The leading book on Balinese dance
Review: I am Balinese and the Balinese like this book.

It is a joint work - the text was written by Beryl de Zoete, a British dance critic, on the basis of notes and information given to her by Walter Spies, a German polymath, who lived in my village, Ubud, in the Thirties. Most of the photographs in the book are his.

My mother worked for Walter Spies. He lived in a small house, just opposite the place where my restaurant now is. Walter Spies was an artist, photographer, musician, anthroplogist and a person who attracted many famous people to Bali in the Thirties.

This book is very detailed and is the most comprehensive book written so far on Balinese dance and drama. It is rather difficult to follow what is going on in Balinese dance, and the explanations will undoubtedly help the traveler. Although detailed, it is readable.

There is a very good introduction by Professor Michael Hitchcock, who is an enthusiastic authority on many aspects of Balinese culture.