5/5 denny f. 4 years ago on Google
The
Barong
and
Kris
dance
is
one
of
the
island’s
most
iconic
dance-dramas,
on
par
with
the
Legong
and
Kecak
dance
performances.
It
brings
the
12th-century
classical
tale
of
good
versus
evil
known
as
Calon
Arang
to
life
on
stage.
The
Barong,
a
benevolent
spirit
in
a
beastly
form
must
protect
a
kingdom
against
the
vengeful
wrath
of
the
widow
and
witch
queen,
Rangda.
A
team
of
2
male
dancers
work
out
the
movements
of
the
heavily
ornate
Barong
costume,
while
a
supporting
cast
portrays
monkeys,
priests
and
village
men.
Daily
performances
are
shown
at
various
venues
throughout
the
island’s
main
tourist
areas
–
the
most
popular
being
at
Batubulan
in
Gianyar,
and
in
the
Denpasar
suburbs.
Barong
and
Kris
dance
shows
are
managed
locally.
They’re
performed
by
local
villagers
and
are
always
accompanied
by
a
live
gamelan
orchestra.
Pamphlets
containing
synopses
are
handed
out
at
the
ticket
booths
prior
to
the
start
of
the
show.
Otherwise,
it
can
be
difficult
to
follow
the
story
as
the
scenes
unfold,
due
to
the
lack
of
narration.
Normally,
vibrant
gamelan
overtures
begin
as
the
audience
is
seated,
then
the
drama
unfolds,
with
dancing
monkeys
entering
the
stage,
playfully
teasing
around
the
orderly
and
peaceful
forest,
and
with
the
Barong
that
later
enters
the
scene.
This
peace
is
disturbed
by
troublemakers
who
turn
out
to
be
disciples
of
Rangda,
and
a
scuffle
ensues.
It
turns
out
that
Rangda
has
set
out
to
spread
her
reign
of
black
magic
by
recruiting
more
followers,
who
turn
into
malevolent
beings
themselves.
Even
palace
guards
submit
to
her
black
magic.
The
Barong
tries
to
defend
the
kingdom
and
faces
off
with
Rangda,
who
brandishes
her
main
weapon:
a
magical
white
cloth
that
casts
malevolent
spells
with
each
swoosh.
The
climactic
scene
has
the
palace
guards
in
a
trance,
turning
on
themselves
by
screaming
and
stabbing
their
chests
fiercely
with
their
kris
daggers,
but
without
harm
due
to
the
black
magic.
Barong
comes
to
the
rescue,
lifting
the
spell
off
all
those
inflicted,
and
a
priest
comes
around
sprinkling
holy
water
to
fully
revive
the
kingdom
as
the
famine
subsides.
Rangda
is
defeated.
Versions
vary
throughout
each
performance
venue.
Shows
last
between
45
minutes
and
an
hour,
and
the
end
of
the
show
usually
features
photo-taking
onstage
with
the
performing
cast
in
their
full
costumes,
or
with
members
of
the
gamelan
orchestra.
Dances
show
once
daily,
usually
in
the
mornings
between
9.30am
and
10.30am.
Due
to
the
kris
self-stabbing
scenes
and
sometimes
a
bit
of
naughty
‘Balinese
humour’
innuendo
thrown
in
by
the
monkey
characters,
we
wouldn’t
recommend
it
for
kids.
Popular
venues
showing
the
Barong
and
Kris
dance
in
the
village
of
Batubulan
include
Putra
Barong,
Sahadewa
Barong
Dance
and
Barong
Dance
Jambe
Budaya.
Elsewhere,
there's
Barong
Dance
Uma
Dewi
and
Sari
Wisata
Budaya
in
Denpasar.
@dennyferdian_
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