Bali Culture - There are two major theories for the arrival of Hinduism. The first belief is that South Indian sea traders brought Hinduism with them. The second describes how Indonesian royalty first embraced Indian religions and culture, and soon after, the masses followed their lead. Balinese Dance Bali has been known to leave mouths agape with its dramatic dances. These intricate dances express a story of drama using the whole body. The Balinese like a blend of seriousness and slapstick and their dances reveal this; like a vaudeville show, the audience cheers on the good guys and cringes at the bad guys. Dancers learn the craft at an early age. While the aspiring dancers are taught to dance with their hands before they can walk, official training starts as young as seven. Balinese dance is inseparable from religion. Based on their religious functions, traditional Balinese dances can be divided into three categories: Language Though Bahasa Bali is the local language spoken in Bali, Bahasa Indonesia is the most commonly spoken language around the tourist areas. Helpful Words & Phrases in Bahasa Indonesia Good morning: Selamat pagi (S’LAH-maht PAH-ghee) Good afternoon: Selamat siang (S’LAH-maht PAH-ghee SEE-yang) Good evening: Selamat sore (S’LAH-maht PAH-ghee soh-ray) No: Tidak (TEE-dah/) Yes: Ya (EEYAH) Thank you: Terima kasih (Tuh-REE-mah KAH-see) You’re welcome: Terima kasih kembali (Tuh-REE-mah KAH-see kem-BAH-lee) Excuse me: Maaf (mah-AHF) Excuse me (to get past): Maaf, permisi (ma-AHF, pehr-mee-see)