Barong Dance is one of Balinese dance which is a pre-Hindu cultural heritage, in addition to Dance Sangyang. The word comes from the word ' Bahruang ' which means the animal bears. Bears are animals that have magical powers mytologi / occult, and considered a protector of animals.
During its development, the Barong is not only manifested in a four-legged animals, but there is also a two-legged. The Barong Dance, Barong is symbol of Dharma / Truth, which always protect mankind against evil. Evil manifested in the form of Rangda.
The types of Barong in Bali are:
Barong Ket ( ketet )
This is the most widely available in Bali and the most frequently performed and have the kind of repertory dance movement is complete. Barong Ket is a mix between a lion, tiger, cow or elephant. Barong body is decorated with carving is made from leather, glass and feathers attached made from ' ijuk ' / fibers or all of crow feathers.
In the show, barong is carried by two dancers called the Saluk Bapang. This play is generally describes a fight between Dharma and adharma, where the theme is almost always the basis of Balinese performing arts theater plays. Barong dance music to accompany this is ' gambelan bebarongan '. In some places there are also accompanied by 'gambelan semar Pegulingan'.
Barong Bangkal
Bangkal mean a big old pig, barong so that it resembles a pig or a boar called barong bangkung. Music to accompany the Gambelan Batel, the show is very rarely accompanied by a story / play, and performances Barong Bangkal is usually by way ngelawang from one place to another and there is also just carried around the village ..
Barong Asu
This Barong mask resembles a dog. Barong Asu is very sacred and only found in the Puncak Dawa Temple, Baturiti, Tabanan
Barong Gajah
Barong Gajah which resembles an elephant, very sacred and one of them located in the Village Singapadu.
Barong Macan
This barong resembles a tiger, in the play danced by two dancers, and there is also equipped with a sort dramatari Arja, gambelan accompaniment is used Gambelan Batel.
Barong Landung
Barong Landung is different from those mentioned above. Barong Landung his form of early humans but not animals. In general Barong Landung was made in pairs, consisting of the Ratu Lanang ( Barong Landung male ) and Ratu Luh ( Barong Landung female ). Barong is called so because of its large and high ( like ondel-ondel Jakarta ). Ratu Lanang very scary face, black face with her teeth out and the Ratu Luh form of an old woman like chinese women.
Barong Blasblasan
It also called barong barong kedingkling, barong blasblasan is a form of dance that is done ngelawang, dancers wearing only masks wayang wong with the story of Ramayana, story in general is a battle scene. Barong is staged on the day of Galungan and Kuningan, and usually the dancers are children. There is a retinue gambelan Batel and some are kind bebarongan (gambelan Batel equipped with reyong).
In addition to the types of barong mentioned above, there are also other types of other barong, Barong Brutuk is located in the Trunyan Village (a small village east edge of Lake Batur). Barong is wearing the fur of dried banana leaves (Kraras) and very sacred by the community Trunyan. And there is also a kind of barong Barong Landung, which exist in the region of Tabanan. Barong is usually performed when a cremation ceremony.