THE FIVE REGIONS, CHECKED
Devdan Show: the five regions on stage
What Devdan's own site and a Jakarta Post review confirm about each region, where they disagree, and the dance traditions behind Sumatra, Java and Bali.
See Devdan Show dates on GetYourGuide ↗Quick answer
Devdan's own site and a Jakarta Post review name the five regions but describe few scenes. The only on-stage details we could source are a Sumatran dance involving a loom and, in Kalimantan, an aerial ballet for a pair of lovers, which a 2016 review called the highlight. Nothing we fetched confirms a Java battle, a Papua hunting festival or a fixed act order. The rest is background on each region's tradition, not a claim about the stage.
What two sources say about each region
| Region | Theatre's site | 2016 review |
|---|---|---|
| Sumatra | Named only | Loom dance, local houses |
| Java | Named only | Named only |
| Kalimantan | Named only | Aerial lovers' ballet, jungle |
| Bali | Traditional dance, generally | Named only |
| Papua | Named only | Named only |
What the sources actually say
The theatre's site tells the story simply: two young travellers slip away from a tour group in Bali, find a treasure chest, and are carried across Indonesia. It names Bali, Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua, and lists traditional dance, contemporary choreography, aerial acrobatics, colourful costumes, energetic music and live stage effects. It gives no scene list, no named dance for each region and no act order. A 2016 Jakarta Post review adds two scene details, covered below. In this guide, "on stage" means a fetched source says it. "Background" means the regional tradition, and is not a claim about Devdan.
Where the sources disagree
Start with the order. The theatre's FAQ and the Jakarta Post both list the regions as Bali, Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua, but neither says that is the stage order. One ticket description lists Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Bali and Papua instead. So this guide gives no order and does not say which region comes last. Running time is also quoted differently: the theatre's own pages give two slightly different figures, and a 2026 blog review gives a longer one. The booking calendar and your confirmation are the reference for timing.
How old is the detail?
The only published scene detail we could fetch is from a review dated June 2016, and the production may have changed since. A travel blog from August 2026 mentions fire dances and aerial silk acts, and the theatre's site shows an aerial straps number and warns of fire effects. None of them says which region those belong to. Treat the 2016 details as one reviewer's account, not a current running order. A visitor testimonial on the theatre's site mentions a Kecak opening, but a testimonial is not a description of the show, so it stays unconfirmed.
Sumatra: one scene sourced
On stage: the Jakarta Post reviewer describes a Sumatran scene where woven fabric is introduced through a dance involving a loom, with local houses and ethnic costumes. Background: Saman is a tradition of the Gayo people of Aceh in Sumatra. UNESCO describes boys and young men sitting on their heels or kneeling in tight rows, in black costumes with embroidered Gayo motifs, led by a singer, clapping and slapping their bodies and the ground in time. UNESCO inscribed it in 2011. No source we fetched says Saman appears in Devdan.
Java: nothing sourced on stage
On stage: no fetched source describes Java's scene. We found no source for a Java battle scene, so we do not claim one. Background: UNESCO says wayang puppet theatre originated on Java and flourished at the royal courts of Java and Bali, with singers and musicians playing bronze instruments and gamelan drums. Wikipedia says Javanese court dances stressed graceful and slow movements, and that the wayang wong dance-drama drew on the Ramayana and Mahabharata. That is the tradition around Java, not what Devdan stages.
Kalimantan: the best-documented scene
On stage: the 2016 review calls an acrobatic piece set in a jungle, where a pair of lovers perform a ballet in the air, the show's highlight. The theatre's site lists aerial acrobatics but does not tie them to a region. Background: Wikipedia describes the Dayak as over 200 ethnic groups in the interior of Borneo, with the longhouse as the heart of the community, and names Hudoq as a Dayak dance ritual tied to agricultural rituals. No source we fetched mentions hornbill feathers, so we do not claim them.
Bali: the tradition around the stage
On stage: the theatre's site mentions traditional dance in general terms, and the review describes no Balinese scene. Background: UNESCO describes Balinese dance as three genres, sacred, semi-sacred and meant for enjoyment by communities at large, all accompanied by gamelan, with costumes that use gold-painted motifs and gold leaf. UNESCO inscribed them in 2015. Wikipedia names Barong, legong, kecak, pendet and joged among Balinese dances. Which of these Devdan stages, if any, is not stated in the sources. For a full comparison, see the village-dance guide.
Read next: Devdan Show tickets: which seat to pick
Papua: nothing sourced on stage
On stage: no fetched source describes Papua's scene. We found no source for a hunting festival, or for Papua closing the show, so we claim neither. Background: Wikipedia lists the Dani and Amungme among Papuan peoples with their own tribal dance styles, and names the Sajojo as a mass dance of simple, structured steps. The same page counts more than 3,000 original dance forms across more than 600 ethnic groups, which is why one scene can show only a sliver of any region.
How to use this when booking
Treat the five regions as a frame, not a programme. What the sources support is a simple story told with dance, aerial acrobatics, fire effects, costumes and music. The Jakarta Post found the plot thin but called the show a good starting point for learning about Indonesian culture. A 2026 blog describes the storytelling as non-verbal, with a few short narrative parts that may be lost on audiences who do not speak English or Indonesian. If you want one tradition in depth, that is a different evening.
Who this isn't for
Skip this guide if you want a verified scene-by-scene programme. We could not find one, and we would rather say so than invent it. Skip Devdan itself if you want a single tradition performed in a village or temple setting. Think twice about a very young child too: the theatre's own site warns of fire effects, loud music and dramatic lighting. Our family guide covers the practical side.
Read next: Is Devdan Good for Toddlers, Kids and Grandparents?
Frequently asked questions
What are the five acts of Devdan?
Devdan visits Bali, Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua, according to the theatre's own site. No source we fetched gives a full scene list or the order. A 2016 review describes two scenes: a Sumatran loom dance and a Kalimantan aerial ballet for a pair of lovers.
Is there a Java battle scene in Devdan?
We found no source for one. The theatre's site and the 2016 Jakarta Post review name Java but describe nothing in it. Treat a battle scene as unconfirmed.
Does Papua close the show?
That is unconfirmed. The theatre's site and the review list Papua last, but neither says that is the stage order, and one ticket description lists the regions in a different order.
Is Saman danced in Devdan?
No source says so. Saman is a Gayo tradition from Aceh in Sumatra, inscribed by UNESCO in 2011. This guide uses it as background on Sumatra, not as a Devdan scene.
Is the 2016 review still accurate?
Possibly in part. The production may have changed since 2016, and a 2026 travel blog mentions fire dances and aerial silk acts without scene detail. Use the review as one reviewer's account, not a current programme.
Do I need to speak Indonesian?
No. A 2026 blog describes the storytelling as non-verbal, with a few short narrative parts that may be lost on audiences who do not speak English or Indonesian. Dance, music and staging carry the show.
Sources