When the Water Dances in Jimbaran: Janger Siat Yeh by the Kalingga Arts Studio

Tari Janger Melampahan Siat Yeh is a performance work presented by Sanggar Seni Kalingga, Jimbaran. This dance was born from the fusion of janger, a traditional Balinese social dance, with the Siat Yeh tradition, which has become a hereditary ritual of the Jimbaran community. In this production, water is not only interpreted as a source of life but also as a symbol of balance and energy manifested through body movements, vocal verses, and the rhythm of gamelan.

This dance not only showcases the beauty of movement but also presents a sense of togetherness that characterizes janger. Every gesture, song, and gamelan beat blend harmoniously, making the audience feel carried away in the lively spirit of the Siat Yeh tradition that comes alive again on stage.

The Flowing Shawl of the Janger Dance (Source: special permission from @gungg.ade)

The dancers performing it are the young generation of Sanggar Seni Kalingga. With great enthusiasm, they present a dance that serves not only as entertainment but also as a medium of cultural preservation. The Janger Siat Yeh performance takes place on an open stage with typical Balinese decorations, complete with gamelan as the main accompaniment. The atmosphere of this performance becomes even more meaningful as it is rooted in the daily reality of the Jimbaran community, who every year after Nyepi hold the Siat Yeh tradition of splashing water at each other, filled with joy and laughter.

Siat Yeh Tradition (Source: special permission from @gungg.ade)

In Balinese, siat means war and yeh means water, so Siat Yeh can be interpreted as “water war.” This tradition is usually held on Ngembak Geni, the day after Nyepi, when the village youth go down to the streets to splash water at each other. The laughter and water splashes that soak their bodies are not merely games, but rather a symbol of self-purification, the expulsion of negative elements, and respect for water as a source of life.

This performance recreates an atmosphere that seems to bring the audience back to the streets of Jimbaran during the Siat Yeh tradition. The swaying white shawls, the dancers’ orderly formations, and the dynamic gamelan beats depict the nature of water, soft yet strong, calm yet turbulent. The dancers’ alternating vocals further emphasize the sense of togetherness and the vibrant spirit usually present in the community’s water war.

Tari Janger accompanied by Gamelan Ensemble (Source: special permission from @gungg.ade)

This moment is presented as the community celebrates tradition, becoming part of everyday life in Jimbaran, not just a performance. Thus, the staging of Janger Siat Yeh is not merely entertaining, but also reaffirms the identity of Jimbaran as a village capable of preserving tradition and reviving it in the form of art. This shows that dance can be a bridge between sacred ritual and entertainment, between ancestral heritage and the creativity of the younger generation. Its presence demonstrates that a tradition never loses its meaning when nurtured with love. In fact, through the stage of art, ancestral messages can reach more people and continue to live across generations.