This dance is a traditional dance that uses masks and costumes as the embodiment of Balinese spirits.
The story goes that Rangda, 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. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.
In the Barong Dance show, dancers wear costumes and masks depicting embodiments of animals or giants that are believed as protector. In Bali itself there are several types of Barong Dance commonly displayed such as barong ket, barong bangkal, elephant barong, barong asu, barong brutuk, barong land, barong tiger and barong kedingkling. Each type of barong is certainly has a story and different dance technique.
However, the most often shown for the tourists is Barong ket, because it has a complete costume and dance. In this barong dance, the dance is packed in a traditional drama or story that tells about the eternal struggle between good and evil.
The costumes used in each type of Barong Dance are vary, because each type of barong has its own manifestation. For barong ket costume, is a combination of lion, tiger, and ox. This barong ket costume is usually used by two dancers, as well as lion dance but different costumes.
On the body, is decorated with ornaments of leather, pieces of glass or mirrors, and feathers made of pandanus fiber or crow hair. While on the head using a mask made of wood. The wood used to create a mask Barong Dance is a special wood which is usually taken from a haunted place. That’s why the Barong Dance is considered a sacred.
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