Dancers in Rangda costume

In Batubulan, Bali, a dancer advances in a Rangda costume. Rangda costumes have wooden masks with bulging eyes, and tangled white hair. The dancer also wears long knife-like fingernail attachments and sports dangling striped breasts. (Learn more)

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The Barong dance is perhaps the most well-known Balinese performance portraying an encounter between positive and negative beings in the universe. In this case, Rangda represents evil and Barong represents good. Even while the dance is not performed, the Barong costume residing in the temple is believed to serve as protection over a region.

Across Bali, the myths enacted during a Barong dance vary according to local tradition. In addition to the lion Barong, the character is also represented by other animals, including a dog, tiger, elephant, and boar.

Learn more about Bali, Batubulan, Indonesia, Rangda, arts, cosmology, dance, mythology, performance, theater, witches, and world cultures.

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