TAPEL LESTARI

(Association of the Eternal Mask)

Founded in 2019, Tapel Lestari or the Association of the Eternal Mask is dedicated to research, awareness and the preservation of Bali’s ancient and diverse mask dance traditions. While Balinese masks and mask dances are well-known and have been performed around the world since a dance troupe from Peliatan delighted and amazed artists and the public of Paris in 1931, there has also has been surprisingly few in depth studies. The goal of our association is to correct this by identifying the origins of the different mask traditions and their historical evolution over the centuries a task we feel is of immense importance in this time of rapid change.