Art is a part of life in Bali. Traditional art museums and galleries like The Neka Museum in Ubud offer excellent classical and contemporary works. Local artists enthusiastically capture scenes of surfers, temples, flora and fauna that range from amateur to amazing. 

However, art for the Balinese is about more than painting and sketches. Art in Bali centers around sculpture and woodcarving. Art includes hand-woven intricate fabrics and hand-dyed batik. Art also includes ancient dances and performance.  Dance takes many forms in Bali. The most significant must-see artistic performances are the Kecak (Monkey Dance) and the Barong & Rangda Dance. The Barong represents positive spirit. He is a gorgeous creature who struts his stuff to music from a gamelan group until he is accosted by the evil witch, Rangda. Accompanied by a cast of kings, princes, servants and a big monkey, a battle of good and evil ensues. Good prevails and the Barong defeats Rangda. The Kacek Dance is performed by dozens of males from young boys to the elderly. This ancient dance of good and evil is performed by firelight, accompanied only by the haunting music of human voices in a chak-a-chak-a-chak chanting cadence. Both performances are sure to be among your most memorable moments in Bali.