MANIFESTATIONS OG BARONG DANCE

An unusual type dance drama is that depicting the mystical animal, The Barong. this animal is regarded as the guardian of the village, and during the play the danser wears a huge mask to represent it. There are several Barong plays, the Barong Ket, the Barong Macan, the Barong Landong and the Barong Bangkung. The Calnarang play is performed at the samae time as the Barong.

This tells the story of the witch, Rangda Girah. The story goes that during the reign ofKing Erlangga. There was a witch whom no one could defeat. thousand of people fell sick and died through her witchcraft and the village of the whole area went in fear with her. Only a certain priest, Empu Baradah could comabt her curse, she is killed, but the play is very exciting, and full of mystery and suspence which is kept up right to the end. The performance used to take place after midnight and in the torcchlight the bold figure of Rangda Girah is sometimes very frightening and breathtaking.

But now we can enjoy Barond dance in the morning everyday in Batubulan and Catur eka Budi, Kesiman and on Fridays in Puri Saren, Ubud.