It is believed that the use of masks is related to the cult of the ancestors, which considered dancers the interpreters of the gods. The traditional masks are those of Topeng Kras (a violent, authoritarian character representing the power) and Topeng Tua (an old character representing the ascetic ideal). They're usually accompanied by the Penasar (buffoons), Dalem (a sovereign) and some comical masks symbolizing the people. In the Topeng theater, there's a permanent alternation between the sacred and the profane, beauty and ugliness, refinement and caricature.[1]
Topeng dances are most prevalent in Bali and Java but are also found in other Indonesian islands such as Madura (off the coast of East Java). The word "topeng" means mask in Indonesian.