Visit Bali and be captivated by the Barong dance.

A team of dozens of dancers and musicians needs three hours of practice each day before performing on stage for one hour at the Ubud Village Cultural Center on Bali island. After the performance, the dancers are ready to teach a few basic dance steps to tourists who want to try them out.

According to many sources, the embodiment of Barong is a lion, revered as the "Lord of the Forest." This dance originates from a 10th-century legend about Rangda, the mother of King Erlangga, who, due to her obsession with dark magic, became a sorceress. Her cruelty caused suffering to the people. The king had to seek the help of the protective deity Barong to defeat Rangda, bringing peace and happiness back to the villagers.

To participate in the Barong dance, visitors first need to familiarize themselves with the 70kg costume, which includes a wooden mask and performance attire decorated with fur, beads, and colorful drawings. Then, similar to the lion dance, one person controls the front and head of the Barong, while another performs with the back and tail. According to Ketut Suardana, a long-time Barong dancer: "To perform well, visitors need to remain calm so that their body harmonizes with the costume."

Besides embodying the Barong, the role of a soldier in a dance with a Kris – a weapon similar to a knife but with a wavy blade – is an interesting suggestion for tourists. Particularly, the pinnacle of Balinese performing arts is the graceful movements of the hands, feet, neck, and face, expressed vividly to the accompaniment of traditional Gamelan music.

A stay in Bali will offer visitors many new perspectives on the island's rich culture through visits to traditional craft villages. These include Ubud – the heart of Bali – the cradle of folk art and painting; Celuk village, famous for its gold and silver jewelry making; and Mas village, tranquil and known for its wood carving… It can be said that, besides its crystal-clear blue sea, this paradise island also holds a poetic and artistic essence that uplifts the emotions of visitors.

4-day Indonesia (Bali Denpasar) tour departing on November 27th and December 25th, all-inclusive price is only 18,890,000 VND per person.

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The Thanh