Royal servant clown
During a Barong dance in Batubulan, Bali, a clown royal servant character leans forward slightly and speaks. The barefoot performer wears an ornate black, red, and gold tunic, a matching headdress, and a painted black mustache. His arms are held out to the sides with his fingers stretched apart, gesturing as he speaks. (Learn more)
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In Balinese masked dances, or topeng dances, a royal servant typically serves as the narrator of the drama. Many of the characters wear full masks and cannot speak, so the royal servant — who is often a clown character — translates the actions of non-speaking characters and adds a humorous element to the performance.
Learn more about Bali, Barong, Batubulan, Indonesia, arts, clowns, costumes, dance, mythology, performance, servants, theater, and world cultures.
Photographs by Margery Freeman · Text by Lorraine Aragon
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