Distance and time in dynamic motion of the universe, build a space for living things to move in pursuing natural movement. Inspiration of natural movement has given participation for the creation of art movements in the human world and poured into a form of popular dance. The art of dance is a form of real information that living things were artistically capitalized in their respective lives. Civilization has taught living things to create communication, either verbally or without words which must be understood by both parties by using non-verbal body movements only. In the art of dance, the dancers must be able to give dance meaning to the recipients, so the audience can interpret the story of the dance movement itself. The scope of the art of dance not only as an entertainment, but has a broad scope in terms of its implementation and usage. In some countries, a dance has been known before the existence of cultural civilization, but maybe only giving a meaning to the application of a religious life of mythology and for healing treatment, up to those reasons even now are still found in some countries and regions, the existence of dance that originated from ancient times are still preserved as one of the cultural heritage of ancestors.

Dance means a body movement in time with the music and used to show expression, social interaction, spiritual expression and an entertainment show. Expression of the body and face movements of dancers able to give meaning to a soul of dances. Expression in dance can also be used as a forum for public social interaction to a connoisseur of art. A dance can also display a particular spiritual expression which is really spiritually purified. Speaking of spiritual issues and dances, once again will be introduced how to see art and spiritual so unified in the blood and breath of life of the Balinese society. Cultural heritage from prehistoric times until it was introduced civilization in Bali by the newcomers seemed increasingly makes Bali so well known. Art and spiritual life of the Balinese people are not separated from the norms and the preservation of its entire cultural heritage. In addition to spatial layout, motion was always filled with the values of art and high culture and usually closely related to religion Hindu community in Bali, art and culture originated from God, dedicated and shall return to the glory of the Creator.

When relation between the spatial structure of all forms of religious art and culture is a sacred thing, and dance forms called “Tarian Wali” such as Berutuk dance, Rejang dance, Sang Hyang Dedari dance, Baris Gede dance. Dance usually using sacred infrastructure and Temple as a place to perform, at least the dancers who dancing must still virgin or must obtain prior purification procession known as “Pasupati”, this sacred procession could maintain vertical relation between human with the Creator, so the dance included in this “Tarian Wali” contain magical powers. Tarian Wali is sacred offerings of the dancers to God with the firm notes that the dance is not perform commercially. Unlike the other categories of Balinese dance, some dances are includes into “Bebali”, they are Gambuh, Topeng Pajegan, Wayang Wong. This dance is perform at Temple and could also be shown to the public outside of religious environment, of course, magic sense is still guarded. Dance intended as a show for the public area classified into dance called “Balih-balihan”, such as Legong dance, Parwa, Arja, Joged, and dances with modern choreography. Many kinds of Balinese dances classified in three categories and all of this dance is not easy for dancers to be able to master it and to hold the high proficiency level in the expression of magic and religy, body movements that has to be adjust to the pace and rhythm of music and soul of this art is not easy to learn and needs special training. Time and strata or levels must pass from an early age. One or two years is not the time required for a dancer to be able to understand every movement of Balinese dance in expressing the soul of the art and it is not an understable things in a short time, but it may take from an early age until reach ten years even more . Basic level, an intermediate (Madya) and full stratum (Purna) is the strata for a dancer to successfully assuming the power of art and culture of Balinese dance. The beauty of motion in the sacred task of maintaining the relationship with God and in the preservation of this cultural heritage is taken locally by various efforts including the existence of special schools where conservation and development of Balinese dances taking place, there are also many dance workshops which provides early instruction on how to master Balinese dance.

High dedication in keeping the arts and cultural heritage of Bali is expected to become the beauty and harmony in dynamic motion of Balinese people. Space and time in beauty of movement will bring you for joining the magical sense of art and culture in Balinese dance.

In the review of the cultural event Pesta Kesenian Bali 2009 this time, will be appointed on the theme of dance “Leko”.  This dance is one of so many Balinese ancient dances which might has already rare to be performed and not much known by Balinese society. Today, Leko dance could be found only at Jembrana, regency at Western area of Bali.

In journey of Leko dance, the dance was come from a sacred art entertainment for the kingdom and noble. Like “Joged Bumbung” dance, Leko dance also using a traditional music “Rindik” to accompany the dance. Rindik is a Balinese traditional music made from bamboo. Leko dancing also involve with a dancer which is taken from the audience, and this dancer known as “Pengibing”. Leko dance using two female dancers while in Joged Bumbung only using one female dancer, this made a different between Leko dance and Joged Bumbung dance.

Leko dance was predictably inspired by “Gandrung” and “Gambuh”, appear in year of 1915 at Pendem village, Jembrana regency. Leko at that time was only a traditional music of “Gerantang” accompaniment with some traditional music device. Then in its evolution, Leko had equipped with a dancers who dance along with a traditional instruments. Leko was a traditional performance tribute to a royal and a king’s family, and a way of villagers to reassure the palace. Leko dance had gone through an upside down existence, where on a colonialism era in Bali, this Leko dance couldn’t perform again, but then raise and still exist until now.

The existence of Leko dance couldn’t detach from a cultural preservation synergy between traditional artists and others related community to protect ancient cultures. Through Bali Art Festival 2009, again Leko dance performance promotes to an audience in purpose of re- introducing this ancient dance for every younger generation. Hopefully, this promotion could lift up again the existence of Leko dance as one of Balinese heritage which deserve to be protect from extinction.

Quick Source : Bali Post (Saturday, 27 June 2009)

Bali, island surrounded by sense of mystics and has a magnetic attraction, Island of God with so many culture and tradition that still exist until now. Equilibrium between vertical and horizontal nexus already contribute and taking role on every side of Balinese community. What could be a reason why Bali always exists as a traditional community and always has a visitor from modernization flow outside of Bali almost every year? Believe the answer is Balinese community trustworthy to the matter that they always called harmonization relationship between a human and God as a creator, protector, and executor of this universe. This is also became a reason why religion in Bali has a harmonic rhythms with its traditional culture. Hindu community in Bali believe that three avatar of God as a creator, protector, and executor had bring so many phenomenon in life, where one of those is law of nature between good and evil, wrong and right, beauty and beast and many differences in this universe and became appear also in traditional mythology of Bali. One of those is “Barong” that represent in Barong & Rangda Dance, this triumphant dance is very popular not only for Balinese people but also for viewers around the world.

Actually, Barong is a form of Bali pre Hinduism inheritance, being transformed to a figurehead or mask of an animals or ancient human which has magical forces. Mystic of Barong mask came from its wood material which taken on cemetery area. Could be in the year of being created, Barong mask has so many different type, nowadays there are several being known, for example: Barong Ket, Barong Gajah, Barong Asu, Barong Landung, Barong Bangkal, Barong Brutuk, Barong Kedingkling until Barong Sai. Barong character in Balinese mythology is reflected of spirit in a human itself, where in Balinese Hinduism believe that a human has a”guardian sibling” when being born in the nativity process, the guardian elements are blood, placenta, and fetal membrane. All these elements will always protect and guard a human all through the process of life till being reunited again with the universe. Barong as a king of spirit is one of those elements as “guardian sibling” and has a power to protect human from any evil through the interaction process of life.

How of good and evil became law of nature happened on every human kind being presented in the procession of theatrical Barong & Rangda dance, story from Mahabrata epic is a conceptual theme for these dance to reflected Barong as a symbol of protector and king of spirit having a battle with Rangda as a symbol of death and queen of evil. Have been written through all a colorful and graceful dance movements that good spirits taking a victory against evil. Where evil always exist and creep the universe in every nightmare, always forced and pushed a human to go to the edge of black hole is reflected on the last part of the dance performance, and again Barong will appear to giving a protection so a human will be shield with a good spirits.

Performance of Barong & Rangda dance bring us to the reflection of how we suppose to live, good and bad spirit on every human on this universe will always be a substance in law of nature, always existing in all circumstances.

Barong Bali is not just only a reflection of traditional mythology, isn’t it?