our story | our mission & mission | about the founders | testimonials

The BaliSpirit Festival - 3 years of magic!

As the BaliSpirit event celebrates its third year of existence, news of its magic has reached around the world.  Not only does the Festival bring together celebrated musicians, yogis and dancers from every continent, but it has also become a magnet for fans, students and followers of every calling. Weeks before the Festival, Ubud begins to fill with a colourful international tribe of young people gathering in anticipation of one of the world’s most inspiring events. Ticket sales have doubled annually as the buzz spreads via the media and individuals.

The first Festival in 2008 was pulled together in just three months -- an incredible achievement in terms of organization, networking and coordination.   It was a dream come true for the founders, who had created a vision of a Festival that would both build and support community within the context of global music, the full spectrum of yoga and international dance.

Set in the spectacular grounds of the Purnati Center for the Arts in Batuan, just 10 minutes south of Ubud, the daytime workshops and Dharma Fair enjoy a venue unmatched for its tropical beauty and gentle energy.   Grassy knolls and palm groves provide peaceful breakout spaces while the pavilions are perfect for yoga and dance workshops.  This year, the global  music concerts take place in Ubud to allow easy access for visitors and locals. This unique series of concerts features and knits together the distinctive traditional rhythms of Africa, Indonesia  and Australia with the contemporary music of the rest of the world.

First-time Festivals are seldom profitable, and for the first two years the BaliSpirit Festival lost money spectacularly.  Despite this, the founders honoured their commitment to community support by donating $17,000 in 2008 to the Bumi Sehat safe birthing clinic, and $17,000 in 2009 to the Pelangi Community School (Yayasan Cehaya Pelangi).   In 2010 the Festival founders are creating an HIV/AIDS Awareness program to alert families to the prevalence of this rapidly spreading disease.  And in 2010, sponsorship was introduced to support the Festival for the first time.

The BaliSpirit Festival is indeed a celebration -- of the richness of culture, the sanctity of the environment and harmony between people of all nations.   Celebrate with us, and in doing so make the world a better place.

our story | our mission & mission | about the founders | testimonials

Our Mission and Vission:

Tri Hita Karana:  

Harmony with God, Harmony in Community, Harmony with Nature

Our Mission

Balispirit Festival is a vibrant and uplifting festival of yoga, dance, and music which awakens and nourishes each individual’s potential for positive change within, leading to positive change in our homes, in our communities, and around the world.

Our Vision

To evolve into a premiere international holistic-wellness and world music destination event, while contributing positively to the ecological health, cultural vibrancy and overall vitality of Bali and Indonesia

our story | our mission & mission | about the founders | testimonials

The Founders

The BaliSpirit Festival is a leader among a new generation of festivals for the rapidly growing holistic travel marketplace.  Conceived through a creative collaboration between three dynamic co-founders, each one brings a unique perspective to the formation of the festival.

I Made Gunarta, Kadek Gunarta, Co-Founder and Cultural Liaison has been a fundamental component of the BaliSpirit Festival’s vision to connect with the community. Kadek comes from a long lineage of socially minded Balinese; his great-grand father, the head of The Sacred Monkey Forest restoration project, and his mother, a school principal for over 30 years, are just two of his role models.  In addition to community projects, Kadek is an inspired natural architect, handling many building projects and also Dek’s Studio, a restored wood business.

Robert Weber, Co-Founder and Musical Director brings to the festival his expertise and passion for world music. He has created a platform for earth-reverent and spiritually inspired performers to gather in a spirit of cooperation, sharing their respective forms of music with an international audience in the global village that is Bali.  A documentary film maker and music producer, Robert runs a recording studio in Bali.  He has dedicated his professional life to creative projects that uplift the collective soul and support grassroots ecological and social initiatives. He and his family have lived on Bali since 2005.

Meghan Pappenheim, Co-Founder and Festival Producer originally from New York City, arrived in Bali in 1992 to complete her BA in Balinese Indigenous Folk Art, and met her husband Kadek Gunarta.  During 18 years of partnership they have created a vibrant group of companies in Ubud including Balispirit.com, the definitive website for Bali’s growing holistic scene.  Although certified to teach, Meghan never materialized as a yoga instructor, but feels strongly that the practice of yoga greatly enhances people’s lives on every level. This realization was a driving force behind the creation of the BaliSpirit Festival.

This cohesive group of visionaries have manifested The BaliSpirit Festival. All three strongly believe that the ongoing outreach and education programs funded and fueled by the Festival will have an immeasurable impact on communities throughout Bali and beyond.  For the founders, this is the greatest accomplishment of all.

Read more about the Festival Team HERE...

our story | our mission & mission | about the founders | testimonials

Testimonials from our friends:

“In just a few years since its birth, the BaliSpirit Festival has quickly become one of the premiere lifestyle festivals in the world.  In the ‘yoga and wellness world, this is the festival that everyone is talking about!”  Ciaran Caulfield, owner of Body in Balance SKYTV, Europe’s leading Wellness channel, April 2009

“The BaliSpirit Festival has become an undeniably important gathering of extremely talented top notch artists and yoga teachers from around the world focusing on healing, peace, and positive change. It celebrates connecting sacred world music and dance from many cultures and traditions with yoga and universal spiritual practices. The BaliSpirit Festival is becoming a model for presenting inspirational, sacred performing arts with healthy lifestyle education and cooperative, peaceful community action....” Geoffrey Gordon, Internationally Known Percussionist, July 2009

“The BaliSpirit Festival successfully captures the essence of Bali's magical culture, its spirituality, and its thriving sense of community.  BaliSpirit Festival is an experience to be savoured for many years to come!”

Coral Brown, Yoga Instructor, July 2009

“When people gather together for an unconditional experience there are no limits to what the collective gathering can manifest. My experience at the BaliSpirit Festival has always turned into sacred space, which allows our birthright of being beautiful, bountiful and blissful to Divinely unfold!!!  Thank you for making this creative, crazy carnival!”

Rebecca Pflaum, Yoga Instructor, August 2009

“BaliSpirit Festival adalah ajang perhelatan spiritual yang meriah... a festive spiritual celebration.”  Kompas, June 2009

"BaliSpirit Festival lebih dari sekedar perhelatan akbar yoga, tari dan musik. Begitu banyak keindahan yang diberikan sebagai wujud apresiasi budaya, spiritualitas, dan kreatifitas untuk dunia yang damai dan penuh cinta... more than a grand celebration of yoga, dance and music. There is so much beauty raised in a manifestation of cultural appreciation, spirituality, and creativity for a peaceful world willed with love.” Fit Magazine, May 2009

“Come to the Ubud and take part in the healing of the planet!“

Michael Franti - Internationally Known Musician & Founder Power to The Peaceful, March 2008

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