What Traditional Dance Reveals About a Travel Destination
Ultimately, dance is a prism for understanding people. Their resistance, passion, grief, transcendence, and joyful celebration. For those communities willing to share this with visitors (through ceremony or education at cultural centers), don't neglect the opportunity. And if you're asked to join—the only answer is yes. I've been welcomed into a swaying circle of Samburu women, leaped between moving bamboo poles beside the Manggarai, and heel-toed my cowboy boots across a dance hall in Montana—each experience deepening an appreciation for each culture's singular identity (and serving as a humbling reminder I should probably stick to ballet).
So, to travelers mapping out their itineraries, take note: every culture has its own form of traditional movement, a few of which are highlighted below. Clear your dance card.
Photo: Amansara
Khmer (Cambodia)
Dotted with temples and surrounded by ancient ruins and sacred mountains, Cambodia is a landscape imbued with spirituality. Travelers checking into Amansara should book the Dance & Devotion experience, which brings guests to the sacred dancers of Angkor Conservatoire. Here, classic Khmer dance is preserved in its native form (not a performance, but a spiritual offering) and guests have the opportunity to watch both rehearsals and the basrei ceremony. Afterward, a master teacher guides guests through a few hand movements and storytelling techniques.
Viennese Waltz (Austria)
Experience the glittering glamour of Viennese waltz during the city's Ball Season, which runs from November through April. During this time, Austria's gilded capital hosts over 400 balls that evoke its imperial past (particularly the Opera Ball that is held in the most beautiful ballroom in the world: the Vienna State Opera). Guests staying at Almanac Palais Vienna can book their Night at the Ball package, which includes a private dance lesson, couture gown, and horse-drawn carriage to the ball (with a limousine return at the end of the night, plus an in-room breakfast and spa treatment the following morning).
Legong (Bali)
Hinduism's cultural influence sweeps across all aspects of life on the island of Bali, especially through expressions like traditional dance. There are several styles that visitors can observe—from the Kecak 'fire dance' to the Barong and Kris 'dagger dance'—but definitely don't miss out on Legong while on the island. With its vibrant facial expressions and complex finger and foot movements, the story of a king who finds a lost maiden is colorfully brought to life. If you're eager to dive deeper into meaning behind these intricate movements, take a Balinese dance lesson at Hoshinoya Bali, held in a gazebo overlooking the jungle.
Tango (Argentina)
Argentina and Uruguay have long sparred over who invented tango, but if you find yourself in the former, book an experience with Untamed Traveling to experience the authenticity of Argentine Tango. Activities can range from lessons to an overnight stay in a tango hotel in San Telmo (the oldest neighborhood in Argentina). If educational tourism is your love language, they can even take you to a lecture about the history of the tango, followed up by a visit to a milonga where locals go dancing.
Bon Odori (Japan)
Japan is home to hundreds of styles of traditional dance, from Kabuki's dramatic theater sequences to the Geisha's graceful Kyomai movements. For travelers looking for an authentic, immersive dance experience, the Gujo Odori Festival in the Gifu prefecture lasts from July to September. This dance festival takes place during the obon period when the Japanese honor ancestral spirits, and there are ten recognized dances (which you're encouraged to learn on the spot from your neighbor). Even better: many attendees opt to wear yukata kimonos and elevated wooden sandals called geta.
Sau Sau (Rapa Nui)
Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island) is the southernmost point of Oceania's Polynesia Triangle. Its rich culture and heritage is celebrated at Nayara Hangaroa (a luxury hotel owned by a local family) where guests of the property are invited to learn about the traditional dress, and can see expressions of the Haka'Ara Tupana dance group two times a week during peak season. One of the most common styles of dance is the Sau Sau; a joyful rocking of the arms and hips with dancers in skirts crafted from feathers or grasses.
Sema (Türkiye)
This enigmatic dance, practiced by members of the Mevlevi Order of Sufi Muslims known as 'whirling dervishes,' dates back to the 13th century and the teachings of the poet and mystic Rumi. Often called a 'moving meditation,' the ritual (known as the sema) features dancers in tall hats and flowing white robes spinning in circles to reach a state of spiritual transcendence. The dance represents a journey of shedding the ego and connecting with the divine, and it requires months of dedicated practice to learn. Travelers can observe these sema ceremonies at destinations like the Mevlana Cultural Center in Konya or the Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum in Istanbul, which has ceremonies every Sunday at 6 p.m.
Caci (Flores)
This ritual whip fight is integral to the Manggarai's cultural identity on the Indonesian island of Flores. The energetic dance is held between two male fighters who take turns attacking and defending. The attacker uses a whip, while the defender uses a round shield made of buffalo hide. Caci is accompanied by chanting and drumming and the fights are ceremonial, not intended to be violent. Guests staying at the newly opened Ta'aktana, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Labuan Bajo can discover Caci every Thursday at the property's amphitheater, or they can arrange an off-site dance excursion as well.
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