The island of Bali is not only blessed with stunning beaches and extraordinary natural landscapes, Bali also has amazing cultural traditions that are still well preserved by its people. One of the famous Balinese cultural heritage is the Barong dance. Barong Dance is an art form that is often associated with spirituality. The dance, depicting the classic battle between “Good and Evil”, has become one of the most famous and well-liked dances in Bali.
In Balinese mythology, Barong is a figure in the form of a lion. This figure is considered the Spirit King who represents virtue, also known as the “guardian angel”. Meanwhile, Rangda (widow in Javanese) is a resistance figure from Barong. Rangda is also known as the Queen of Demons who leads an army of evil witches. Not just an ordinary dance, the Barong Dance is present as a reflection of life depicting two characters in an endless battle. Similar to the Sanghyang Dance, the Barong Dance is an original Balinese culture that existed before the arrival of Hinduism in Bali. Like a lion, Barong is also covered in thick white fur around his face and decorated with various gold jewelery and mirror shards.
Just like the Barongsai, the Barong is played by two dancers who agilely perform in an integrated manner. In his dance drama, which is called Calon Arang, you will witness the story of Barong warding off Rangda’s magic that controls the world. In the drama it is also told that the men will fight each other using daggers, but when Barong appears, they change the direction of the keris and stab it at themselves. The players entered a trance. Barong then defeats Rangda so that nature returns to balance. Meanwhile, players who are possessed are then reborn (reincarnated) thanks to a sprinkling of holy water. The Balinese believe that each region has its own protective spirit to protect its forest and land. For each region, Barong is depicted with a different animal. Barong Ket (Barong Singa) is the most common type of Barong found in almost all parts of the island. Meanwhile, Barong Buntut is a type of Barong that only highlights the front, usually performed by a single dancer. Other types of Barong are Barong Landung (Giant Barong), Barong Celeng (Barong Wild Boar), Barong Macan and Barong Naga.
Barong performances can usually be found in many places in Bali. However, the most popular are the Barong performances at Batu Bulan Village in Gianyar regency or the Barong performances at Kesiman, Denpasar.