Top 5 Highlights at the Balispirit Festival

1. Experiencing traditional Balinese Legong dance with Maestro Bulantrisna Djelantik. The intricate moves and striking postures were taught to a group of enthusiastic festivalgoers. Bulantrisna directed everyone to push their shoulders back while arching their backs and squatting at the same time. Balance is the key to maintaining this difficult pose. I have a whole new appreciation for the art of Balinese dance!
2. Healing with Vibhuti at the Dharma Fair was another highlight of my day. Vibhuti, is well known to those of us who are avid fans of her bi-monthly astrological forecast featured in the Bali Advertiser. She combines Theta healing with her impressive intuitive ability, to find out the priority of the client for that session. She then consults with her higher guides to determine what needs to be harmonized, healed or released from the client’s energetic body. I found her session to be both profound and empowering on so many levels.
3. Sound Diving with Wavegarden was also phenomenal! We were all treated to the soothing and harmonic sounds of crystal bowls & the harpsichord being played in unison with ethereal singing. I felt as if I were floating up to the clouds as the subtle but penetrating vibrations of the bowls entered my being. This was pure bliss!
4. Talking with Tina Nance while she had a dip in the pool was yet another serendipitous experience that was truly magical. We talked about the beauty and power of blending yoga with dance and how healing yoga dance had been for herself, as well as the many women she has had the privilege to teach this to. Tina shared that women love being able to totally let loose as the Shakti moves within their body, naturally guiding them into free flow dance. It’s not from the mind; yoga-dance bypasses our thinking and goes straight to the source – or inner Ki.
5. There’s no better way to end the day, then listening to awesome music at the Arma. I was definitely feeling my Shakti flowing, as I danced to the grooves of Mama Susu who was backed by Rob Weber and friends. Special guest Laksmi Ayu made an appearance with her hauntingly beautiful voice that touched me to my core. I must admit I felt a few tears well up in my eyes. Then Lynx performed a fantastic acapello accompanied by an incredible songstress whose name slips my mind at the moment. The energy was high and of course we all wanted more, so Lynx did an encore before Ganga Giri came on. Their unique sound combined Dijeridoo with electronic and funk. Everyone was on their feet dancing with genuine enthusiasm and joy.

Written by : Michele Cempaka