What is Taksu?
There is no English word equivalent for the word Taksu. It is the intangible energy that surrounds all things, blending the energy of the visible and invisible worlds–it is the thread that connects all life in Bali. In the West, some might call it charisma or stage presence, but it is much more than that. There is a definite connection with divine forces.
“In Bali, dance, drama, and music are much more than mere performances. They are spectacles of color and sound, but their main purpose is to please the deities and ancestral spirits. Taksu, or spiritual charisma, is the pinnacle of energy which every Balinese performer strives for to mesmerize both the human and divine audience.”
-from A Guide to the Performing Arts of Bali