BALI DANCE

Fhopograpy by Nick
Barong and kris dance Barong Dance which is more drama than dance. ' lord of the forest' and magical protector of balinese villages, the barong is a mythical, shaggy half-dog, half-lion creature, with a long mane, fantastic fangs, and bulging eyes. It is propelled by two men who maneuver the costume with whimsical and mischievous movements to expres its fun-loving nature. his opponent is rangda, the evil witch who rules over the spirits of darkness.
The barong dance epitomizes the eternal struggle between good and evil. The barong will snap its jaws at the gamelan, prance around a bit, and enjoy the acclaim of its supporters- a group of kris wielding men. Then the ferocious rangda will appear lolling her long tongue, baring her treatening fangs, her neck draped with human entrails, not a beautifull sight, but of course an unforgettable one.

Legong dance
The most gracefull of Balinese dances, Legong is the epitome of classical balinese female dancing. A legong, as the dancer is known, is often a young girl, eight or nine years of age, reraly older than early teens. it was first created in the 18th century and is usully the first dance to be tought to beginners.

Kecak dance
Kecak dance which illustrates the story of rama and sinta taken from the ramayana epic against a background of about 150 chanting men. its name derived from the sound " cak " which is chanted in complex interlocking patterns that are like the rhythmic patterns played on the gamelan.