The purity of the offering to the gods in the Rejang Dance

Among the sacred Balinese dances, perhaps the most fascinating is the Rejang. Performed by very young dancers in the area inside the temple, the dance represents an act of gratitude and an offering to the gods. No preliminary training appears to be required from the dancers, in the belief that the spirit of Ngayah guides the harmonious execution of the movements. In fact, tradition sees dancers as celestial maidens who come to Earth to welcome the Gods to confer protection and prosperity. This dance is usually taught from generation to generation so that the cultural heritage is not lost and it is not uncommon to see even 2 or 3 year old girls in the procession. The clothing changes depending on the customs of the village where the Rejang is carried out, but the headdresses are usually very impressive and can reach up to one meter in height. The characteristic of Rejang is the slowness of the gestures and the simplicity, such as to make one think that there is no real choreography. Generally, Rejang is danced in several rows, the dancers are connected to each other by belts, which they hold in their left hand, while in their right hand they sometimes have a fan.