Barong and keris dance is a traditional Balinese dance performance that tells the story of an endless battle where the fight between bad and good. Barong who represents the good character and Rangda who represents the evil character. In This Performance, the dancer stab a dagger into his body and uniquely the dancer’s body not injured at all.

Barong and Keris dance performances teach us to behave well with our fellow humans in order to create harmony in living life. Banas Pati Raja is the spirit that animates the Barong. Banas Pati Raja often represented by a lion. Traditional performances of his struggle against Rangda are a popular part of Balinese culture.

Barong and Keris dance

Barong is a mythological character whose aim is to protect Bali from all kinds of evil disturbances that threaten the island of Bali. The barong depicted in various forms of worshiped animal guises such as lions, tigers, wild boars, buffalo, elephants, or dogs.

Barong has emerged as part of Javanese and Balinese culture since people still believe in animistic beliefs. And in Bali the shape of the barong character is like a mixed animal face with a scary but good character. Made in such a way that it can create a religious feel when you see it.

Barong bali originated as a development of barong ponorogo or Reog, which King Airlangga brought when he fled to the island of Bali to save himself. Besides Barong Ponorogo, Airlangga also brought other forms of literary art, Javanese script, and religious rituals.

What is Rangda?

Rangda is a mythological creature from Bali that has an evil character. Rangda with a scary appearance often kidnapping and eating small children considered the embodiment of Goddess Durga. The name Rangda comes from the old Javanese language meaning “Widow”. In the past, janda was found in the Vaisya, Ksatria and Brahmin castes. The name of the widow of the lower caste, namely the Sudra caste with the name Balu.

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According to legend he took revenge by killing half the kingdom, which later became his and the property of Dharmodayana’s son, Erlangga. Rangda manifested in a very scary form as a woman with long disheveled hair and has long nails, a long protruding tongue, and long breasts.