The beautiful island of Bali in the vast nation of Indonesia has acquired a strong reputation as a major tourist attraction. Bali is also considered to be noteworthy for its unique cultural traditions. One of the most distinctive features of the island’s cultural legacy is its elaborate and enthralling dance forms.
Dance and theatre are an inextricable part of the unique culture of the Balinese who are proud of their cherished and time-honoured performance arts. These dances have gained global recognition for their artistry and creativity. Although many of these arts have their roots in the religious heritage of the island, they are often performed at celebratory occasions like weddings, birthdays and temple festivals. Today tourists also have the opportunity to watch dances staged especially for visitors to the island.
The exotic Barong dance is one of Bali’s most acclaimed and treasured performances. This fascinating and mesmeric dance recounts the struggle of good against evil, and order against chaos. The barong is the ruler of the spirits, the leader of the forces of good whose physical form resembles a lion. He is opposed by Rangda, the queen of the demons against whom he struggles for victory.
The origin of the concept of the Barong is thought to be local animist beliefs, which existed long before the arrival of Hinduism. It is portrayed as a lively lion, which features a reddish head as well as thick white fur and is adorned with jewellery. He is portrayed as being strong, valiant, brave and righteous.
On the other hand, the fiend queen Rangda is the very opposite of the virtuous Barong. She is portrayed to be purely evil, a witch who is adept at black magic, a bringer of disease and a destroyer of crops. The epic battle between these two forces forms the nucleus of the Barong dance. This ancient art form is native to Bali and is found nowhere else. Visitors should make it a point to witness this mesmeric presentation which always captivates the viewer.
If you are planning to visit the area and are interested in Bali resorts, a well-considered choice would be the Anantara Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa. One of the outstanding Uluwatu hotels, this quality rest provides attractive accommodations with a selection of amenities.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
