Our Favourite Traditional Dances & Shows in Bali

One of our favourite ways to spend an evening in Bali is by catching a cultural performance. From fire-lit Kecak dances on the cliff-edge in Uluwatu to elegant Legong performances in the beautiful Ubud Palace, these shows offer a glimpse into the island’s rich artistic heritage.

After exploring many of Bali’s top shows and dance performances, we’ve rounded up our favourites in this guide, along with tips to help you get the most out of your night.

1. Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre

Sitting at the top of our list is the Devdan Show. Taking place at the modern Nusa Dua Theatre, this mesmerising production showcases the diverse cultures of the Indonesian archipelago, taking you on a journey through the islands of Bali, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Papua.

The show features traditional and contemporary dance, breathtaking acrobatics, and state-of-the-art special effects. There are stunning costumes, amazing props, pyrotechnics, water performances, illusions, and much more! It's undoubtedly the most impressive performance of its kind on the island.

You’re not allowed to take photos or videos during the show, but afterwards there’s an opportunity to head outside and get a photo with the performers – a fun keepsake from your trip.

The Devdan Show is held three nights per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, starting at 7:30pm and lasting just over an hour. Being entirely indoors, it's a great evening activity for rainy days in Bali.

There are four ticket categories: A, B, C, and VIP. There’s no need to splash out - we got the cheaper Category C side-view tickets and ended up a few rows from the stage with a great view. VIP tickets get you a comfy armchair to sit in. But to be honest, most people don’t need this for a one-hour show.

We recommend going for dinner at The Bali Collection beforehand, which is walkable to the theatre and has several great restaurants to choose from - Nusa by Suka is our fave!

2. Baraong Show at GWK

Held in a large amphitheatre at the GWK Cultural Park on the Bukit Peninsula, the Baraong show follows a traditional story in which Prince Bara searches for three Barongs (mythological lion-like creatures) to restore peace to his kingdom.

The story is deeply rooted in Balinese Hindu mythology, with the Barong being an important symbol of good and a protector against evil forces.

With a cast of 30 performers, the show features dancing, stunning costumes, special effects, and audience participation. We all had to play the instruments provided under our seats at one point! English subtitles narrate key parts of the story on the screen, a unique feature you don't find in most shows in Bali.

The show takes place at 6pm, four evenings a week from Wednesday to Saturday. The amphitheatre is just outside of the culture park’s ticketed area, so you can watch the Baraong show without visiting the rest of the park.

After the Baraong show, you can use your show ticket to explore the park for free. By this point, it will be dark and most things will have closed, but the statue will be lit up and looks incredible at night. This only applies AFTER the show, not before.

Many people like to combine this experience with dinner at the park’s Jendela Bali restaurant, which has a beautiful terrace area overlooking Jimbaran. However, we prefer heading to nearby Jimbaran Beach, where you can enjoy fresh fish and live music right on the sand.

3. Kecak Dance & Fire Show (various venues)

The Kecak dance is a Balinese dance performance known for its dramatic choreography and use of fire. It tells a story from the Hindu epic Ramayana, in which Sita, the wife of Prince Rama, is kidnapped by the demon king Ravana.

While the dance itself was only invented in the 1930s, the style is inspired by an ancient tradition known as Sanghyang, where the performers are in a trance-like state, with a huge chorus of men chanting “cak-cak-cak” throughout.

The shows typically include beautiful traditional costumes and some audience participation, culminating in fire being thrown around the stage in a magnificent (and slightly nerve-wracking) display.

Kecak performances take place in venues all across the island. These are some of our favourite places to watch it:

4. Legong Dance at Ubud Palace

Legong is another form of traditional dance in Bali that's usually performed by young women and tells stories from Balinese mythology and history.

Once used for royal entertainment, the dance style is characterised by intricate finger movements, complicated and fast-paced footwork, and intense facial expressions and eye movements. A gamelan (Balinese orchestra) accompanies the performance with traditional instruments.

Our favourite performance is the Legong show at Ubud Palace (pictured), where the open-air setting and beautiful architecture provided the perfect backdrop. Shows are held nightly with tickets available online or at the door.

Seating is first-come, first-served, so we'd recommend arriving at least 15-20 minutes early to get a good seat. Most latecomers end up sitting on the floor.

While legong is a distinct dance style, the hour-long performance combines other traditional dance styles to keep it interesting, including barong, kris, topeng, and more.