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Kadek Dewi Aryani - Teaching Balinese Dance "I love teaching... I can see the joy in the children's eyes when they learn a dance and perform it well - especially during dance competitions." To conserve Balinese dance and its stories, a child must be trained from an early age on - the dances require years of training, therefore - nimble bodies and receptive open minds are necessary. Balinese dance is very complex, and the intricate body movements and expressions can take years to master. As a teacher, I first teach the basic dance movements, but not their meaning - the sensual and spiritual elements.	Dewi - with one of her classes
I want their bodies to adapt to the movements through constant repetition, learning to utilize the energy of the mind and the body. Another important goal in our teachings is to foster the understanding that dancing is a part of their cultural inheritance, that dance belongs to them. Instilling respect, honor, pride, and other important social values in a young child will help to develop a strong lifelong bond with the family and the village, and also paves the path to a deeper understanding of our religion and life philosophy. Enjoying the dance and mastering it eventually, will help them to feel positive about every other aspect of their Balinese culture.	Dewi - teaching children in class
It is a great honor to dance in the temple and to be a part of an important religious festival. Our children look forward to these ceremonies for months and when the time comes, the whole family involves itself in the many preparations necessary for the event. The children take these events very seriously, and everyone in the village welcomes the young dancers - who are now becoming actively participating members of the community. It is another step towards adulthood. MORE ABOUT: DEWI | DANCE | TEACHING | FAMILY | TRADITION	Children - getting ready for a performance