Ever seen a Bumblebee dance?

Balinese culture has many creative and weird dances that are performed at temple ceremonies and for tourists on occasion. One of the strangest named dances is the Bumblebee dance, more correctly, the Oleg Tambulilingan. Created in 1952 by a famous male dancer Mario ( real name Ketut Marya) for a world fare, the Bumblebee Dance is a very sensual performance. Its mimics the mating dance of 2 bumblebees, the male obsessed with the female who elegantly and coyly keeps him away. She eventually gives in at the finale. The female role is especially complicated and I have even seen 2 girls playing the roles. Balinese female dancers wear a tighly-bound sarong and dance by bending forward slightly, keeping their feet close together and bending their arms at right-angles. The head and eye are worked so you get this very puppet-like movement which obviously takes a lot of practive. Male dancers use a wider stance and adopt a more aggressive style.

This dance is not performed too often but a tourist might get a chance to see it at a festival such as the Kuta Karnival. Another dance that is put on for crowds is the Joged Bumbung. This is also a mating ritual where a male dancer tries to entice the female with his dancing skill, the lucky male being allowed to enjoy a few seconds of hip-grinding to the excitement of the crowd. All good fun and a part of the traditional entertainment in Bali.