The performances on the first day of Mengenang Sang Guru: A Tribute to Anak Agung Gde Mandera and Gusti Made Sengog could be called the performances of the veterans in which the older generation of the pupils of Anak Agung Gde Mandera (affectionately called ‘Gungkak’) and Gusti Made Sengog (affectionately called ‘Niang Sengog’) showed their affection to the late teachers with a brilliant dance performances. The oldest dancers that night were in their early seventy and the youngest were in their late forty.

It is not an exaggeration to state that Topeng Pajegan is the most demanding mask performance for an actor to stage. The distinguishing feature of Topeng Pajegan is that it is a monodrama in which a single dancer tells a story by portraying a succession of masked characters. With the help of a few simple theatrical conventions, the solo performer of Topeng Pajegan is able to tell a complicated and engrossing story single-handedly.

Speaking about Balinese women, we will speak about endurance, patience, love and care and of course, hard workers. The women do all the work while men go to tajen (cockfighting) is the image of Balinese society seen by the outsider and there is some truth in it. The cockfighting is seldom held nowadays maybe once in a month or two, but the Balinese women are still a hard worker.

Daily photo journal of Bali Arts Festival 2006

The cremation procession featured a Naga Banda, a mythical dragon-like creature with a 5-metre long tail, which is one of the elements that made this high-caste ritual such a spectacular event.