The Trunajaya dance describes the emotions of a younger man by love and passion. The dance movements replicate the theme of courtship and love.
Truna which means ‘single’ and jaya which means ‘to win’ immediately offers an understanding of the dance. Satirically, the dancer are younger girls who take on the role of young men. The ladies wear a ‘destar’ usually worn by males and an uncommon loin-fabric known as a ‘kancut’. The Trunajaya is often danced by a single feminine however generally two, dancing collectively in synchronous movements and to the mesmorotic sounds of the ‘Gong Kebyar’, a quick, rhythmic beat which matches in concord to the dance. The dance was created by Wayan Wandres, from Singaraja, Northern Bali.