Beyond Performance

Contemporary dance practices are increasingly shaped by performance-oriented and competitive frameworks that may overshadow dancers’ psychological well-being. In response to this concern, this study explores an alternative embodied approach grounded in Balinese local wisdom through the implementation of Tri Angga and Tri Pramana in Sangurip Dance. Rather than positioning dance solely as a performative achievement, the study examines how culturally embedded movement practices may foster reflective experiences related to well-being. A qualitative practice-based inquiry with a phenomenological-interpretive orientation was employed. Data were collected from ten dancers through structured dance sessions, participant observation, in-depth interviews, reflective journals, and video-stimulated recall. The findings reveal three interconnected experiential patterns. First, Tri Angga enhances bodily awareness by encouraging dancers to attend to the integration of upper, middle, and lower body movements, contributing to emotional regulation and embodied balance. Second, Tri Pramana supports personal growth through the harmonization of bayu (energy), sabda (breath and expression), and idep (consciousness), fostering self-awareness, attentional focus, and reflective meaning-making. Third, Sangurip Dance functions as a supportive social space that strengthens interpersonal relationships, collective awareness, and emotional support among participants. These findings suggest that dance may serve as an embodied pathway to psychological well-being by integrating physical, mental, social, and cultural dimensions. This study contributes to the literature by connecting Balinese philosophical concepts with contemporary well-being frameworks, particularly the PERMA model, and offers a culturally grounded perspective on reflective dance practice beyond performance-oriented approaches.