Khan Academy: Storytelling in Ritual and Performance in Bali

Balinese stories are continually told and retold. The Kayonan is the first and last puppet seen in the Balinese wayang shadow theater. As it dances, it symbolizes the living tradition of storytelling that deeply explains and entertains, morally educates and brings communities together. Tales such as the Ramayana are mainly spread through storytelling, shadow plays, masked dance, chants, and other theatrical genres. Dancing, music making, painting, and theater are offerings to the gods, as well as entertainment for people. Art, ritual, and performance overlap in Balinese culture in various ways.