Dance Class in Ubud with Barbara Minz

After looking at community message boards and local activity books we stumbled upon an American dance teacher who has lived here in Ubud for twenty years. She has studied both the gamelan and traditional Balinese dance, as well as many other dance forms including Indian, modern and bellydance. We managed to find her open air studio, which is located off a tiny side street in town over looking rice paddies. We had our usual difficulty with Ubud directions and arrived late for our 9:30 class, luckily we were not the only late ones, Bali time is relaxed time. The class we attended is called Shakti and is Barbara’s own blend of belly dance, pilates, Indian and modern dance. We were guided through floor exercises with an emphasis on “swinging” of momemtum, which we both found fascinating. Later we took the same principals to more traditional upright belly dance moves. It was a great work out for two stiff and tired travelers. We set up a traditional Balinese dance class for next week. Barbara gave us information on a well known musician who plays an very old style of gamelan (which is the name for the metal and gong orchestra in Bali) and recommended that we see him during our time in Tingalon, the old traditional city.