Devdan, billed as Treasure of the Archipelago, is the south coast's big-stage answer to the intimate temple dance performances of Ubud. It is staged at the Bali Nusa Dua Theatre, a purpose-built, air-conditioned auditorium in the ITDC resort complex at Nusa Dua, and it lasts about ninety minutes with no interval. The show takes the audience on a journey through five regions of Indonesia: Bali, Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua. Each region is introduced through its own music, costume and movement, so the evening moves from the poised gestures of Balinese dance to the rhythms of other islands, and from folk tradition to modern theatre. The performers combine traditional dance with acrobatics and aerial acts, including fire dances and aerial silk, and the staging adds waterfalls, smoke, rotating platforms and large multimedia backdrops. More than two hundred costumes appear over the evening, which is one reason the production feels more like a touring stage show than a village performance. Storytelling is mostly non-verbal, so visitors do not need Indonesian or English to follow the progression, although a few short narrative passages can be harder to follow without the language. The theatre offers several seating categories, from standard to VIP and premium, and the best views of both the stage and the aerial elements are from the middle of the auditorium. The show suits first-time visitors who want a polished introduction to Indonesian performing arts, families with children old enough to sit through ninety minutes, and anyone staying in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran or Benoa who wants an easy evening out without a long drive.
Schedule and tickets
Devdan is an evening performance that runs on selected nights each week rather than every night, and doors open about half an hour before the show. Because the days can change and the better seats go early, check the current performance dates when you book and reserve in advance, especially in the dry season and over school holidays.
Ticket categories range from standard to VIP and premium seating, and your voucher will tell you which section you are in. Latecomers may only be seated at a designated break in the performance, so plan to arrive with time to spare.
In the theatre
The building is air-conditioned and can feel cool after a hot day, so bring a light jacket or shawl. Photography and video are not allowed during the performance, and there is no food service inside the venue, so eat before or after. The theatre is in the Nusa Dua resort enclave, where parking is available and taxis or hotel cars are easy to arrange.
It is a short ride from the Nusa Dua hotels, and reachable by car from Jimbaran, Kuta, Seminyak and Sanur, although the drive from the north of the island can take well over an hour in the evening traffic.
How it compares
If you want to see Balinese dance in a temple or palace setting, the Ubud palace performances and the Uluwatu Kecak show offer a more atmospheric, authentic experience. Devdan is different: a large-scale theatre production that gives a sweep across the archipelago in a single evening. It works best as a complement to those more traditional experiences, or as a rainproof, comfortable evening plan during the wet season, when open-air shows can be disrupted by weather. Families with children should expect loud music, fire and dramatic lighting.
What to expect
The experience
A ninety-minute theatre production with dance, acrobatics, aerial silk and fire, moving through five Indonesian regions with large-scale staging and over two hundred costumes.
Best time
An evening show on selected nights each week; arrive about half an hour early. Check dates when you book.
How long
About ninety minutes with no interval, plus travel to Nusa Dua.
Tips
Book ahead for the middle seats, bring a light jacket for the air-conditioning, eat beforehand because there is no food service, and do not plan on photography.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-timers who want a polished sweep of Indonesian performing arts in one evening.
- Families
- Good for children who can sit for ninety minutes; the fire, costumes and aerial acts hold attention.
- Couples
- A comfortable, rainproof evening out, particularly good for a final night in Nusa Dua.
- Pair with
- The beach and a sunset dinner in Nusa Dua or Jimbaran before the show.
- Time needed
- An evening.
Good questions
How long is the Devdan show?+
About ninety minutes, with no interval. Doors open about half an hour before the performance.
Where is the Devdan show held?+
At the Bali Nusa Dua Theatre in the resort complex at Nusa Dua, in the south of Bali, a short ride from the Nusa Dua hotels.
What is in the Devdan show?+
A journey through Bali, Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua told through dance, acrobatics, aerial silk, fire and large-scale stage effects, with more than two hundred costumes.
Do I need to understand Indonesian to enjoy Devdan?+
No. The storytelling is mostly non-verbal, so the music, movement and staging carry the show.
Can I take photos during Devdan?+
Photography and video are not allowed during the performance. There is also no food service inside the theatre, so eat before or after.
