Barong Keris Dance

Barong Keris Dance in Batubulan

Barong Keris Dance in Batubulan is one of the most demanded tourist attraction in Bali. Your holiday in Bali would be incomplete if you do not see this show.

Barong Keris Dance come from ancient pre-Hindu culture. The meaning of this show is very deep. It is depict a fight between good deeds and evil deeds. The good deeds represented by Barong which looks like tiger with four legs and the evil deeds represented by Rangda; the terifying figure with fang and long tongue, which is kind’a creepy.

 

Barong Keris Dance Types

There are many kinds of Barong Keris Dance in Bali, namely Barong Ket, Barong Bangkal (babi), Barong Gajah, Barong Asu (anjing), Barong Brutuk, and Barong-Barongan. Barong Ket, or Barong Ketket is the most famous of all, because it has a complete and detailed costume. You more likely to see Barong Ketket than the others since it’s more entertaining than the others.

Barong Ket figure is looks like a combination of tiger, lion and ox. Its body decorated with leather ornaments, mirror pieces, the feather made of pandan’s fiber. Barong Ket and other barongs are normally played by two persons. one in front, and one in the back. The front man controls the front area of the Barong and obviously the head. The back man controls the rear legs and tail. The show requires a very good cooperation between players. They have to be connected in mind and body movement, of course before the show, they are trained very well.

At glance, the Bali Barong figure looks slightly similar with the Chinese Guradian Lions, but it is not the same and they have different meaning and purposes.

Barong Keris Dance sanctity

Even though Barong Ket now often performed as tourist attraction, it still considered as sacred dance. The sanctity of Barong Ket started from the very beginning. From selecting the proper wood for its mask, choosing the right day to coloring the mask, creating the framework, selecting the feather and even choosing the performer.

When you see Barong Keris dance, you actually see a very carefully crafted, sacred Bali tradition. That is why, your trip to Bali would be incomplete without seeing Barong Keris dance performance.