Sy and I watched the Barong Dance, which is one of two most popular dances in Bali. We were brought there as part of a full-day tour package we signed up. Thankfully, it was the 1st item on our itinerary, else I wouldn't have the energy to decipher the artistic elements within the dance.
The Barong Dance narrates the fight between good and evil. This dance is the classic example of Balinese way of acting out mythology, resulting in myth and history being blended into reality.
The story goes that Rangda (bad), the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong.
The Barong (good) is a strange but good, mischievous and fun-loving shaggy dog-lion. It came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned kris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp kris. Finally, the terrible Rangda retires and good has truimphed again. (However, note that Rangda seems too powerful to be defeated and has not been killed.)
Maybe the Barong Dance is a reminder that the world is just a stage - everyone is an actor. To enjoy the play, you just have to act better than the rest.
The Barong Dance narrates the fight between good and evil. This dance is the classic example of Balinese way of acting out mythology, resulting in myth and history being blended into reality.
The story goes that Rangda (bad), the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong. The Barong (good) is a strange but good, mischievous and fun-loving shaggy dog-lion. It came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned kris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp kris. Finally, the terrible Rangda retires and good has truimphed again. (However, note that Rangda seems too powerful to be defeated and has not been killed.)
In reality, there is always the GOOD and the EVIL. And both of them are constantly fighting for our attention. And it's nearly a clear cut case that the GOOD will truimph. Just a look at history and you find millions killed due to wars and thousands displaced due to corruption. Sometimes, it becomes unclear who the good and the evil are. With deceptive looks & mannerisms, the world seems a difficult place to live in.
Maybe the Barong Dance is a reminder that the world is just a stage - everyone is an actor. To enjoy the play, you just have to act better than the rest.
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