Balihop invites audiences into a sonic kite dance—a space where movement, sound, and air itself become collaborators.
Balihop: Dancing with Kites is a collaborative performance by Brooklyn-based artist Akim Ndlovu (Funk Buddha) and renowned Balinese composer Putu Septa that fuses Balinese kite tradition with classic hip-hop expression. Drawing from centuries-old kite-making practices, Aeolian sound-bows, and the spiritual resonance of gamelan, the work creates a dialogue between wind, voice, and rhythm. Akim’s vocal sounds emulate the singing kites, while Putu’s gamelan artistry grounds the performance in ritual and interlocking rhythm.
Balihop is at once local and global, ancient and contemporary—an aerial choreography where tradition and innovation take flight.
Balihop: Dancing with Kites is a collaborative performance by Brooklyn-based artist Akim Ndlovu (Funk Buddha) and renowned Balinese composer Putu Septa that fuses Balinese kite tradition with classic hip-hop expression. Drawing from centuries-old kite-making practices, Aeolian sound-bows, and the spiritual resonance of gamelan, the work creates a dialogue between wind, voice, and rhythm. Akim’s vocal sounds emulate the singing kites, while Putu’s gamelan artistry grounds the performance in ritual and interlocking rhythm.
Balihop is at once local and global, ancient and contemporary—an aerial choreography where tradition and innovation take flight.
Performance Stills
Pictures below from the Ubud Folk Fest, Ubud, Bali, August 2025.
