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Barong Dance
1001-Present Day
Introduction
The Barong Dance is native to Balinese culture and predates Hinduism influences in the region. Often performed during ritual ceremonies, the dance portrays the classic mythological battle of good versus evil. Barong is the king of the spirits, a force of good, and enemy of Rangda, the demon queen. This guide to the Balinese dance-drama emphasizes the ritualistic and cultural importance of the genre. We explore the structure of the dance, important ritual elements, and the masks and instruments used within the performance.
Terminology
- Bali: a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands.
- Barong: the king of the spirits in Balinese mythology, representing goodness and virtue.
- Gamelan: an indigenous orchestra specific to Bali and Java, largely made up of percussion instruments.
- Kris: a distinctive, asymmetrical dagger from Indonesia considered to be both a weapon and a spiritual object. It is believed to possess magical powers.
- Rangda: the child-eating, demon queen in Balinese mythology.
Key Dates & Events
- 2015 - Three genres of traditional dance in Bali (including Barong) were inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- 2021 - A 16 year old dancer fatally stabbed himself in the heart, while performing in a trance.
Context & Analysis
In Balinese mythology, the prominent character of Barong is the protector spirit who represents goodness and virtue. He is often represented as a lion, although each region of Bali has its own guardian spirits, and other variations include a boar (pig), a tiger, and a dragon/serpent. In the dance, Barong battles against Rangda, the Queen of the Demons who leads an army of
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Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher