Another performance of rare and sacred Baris Cina Dance was held in Kahyangan temple of Renon village on Saturday (12/13/08). This rare dance is usually held on the temple anniversaries of certain temples in Renon and Sanur village, in Petitenget temple and in Besakih temple.

The Baris Cina’s dancers are divided into two groups. One group wear white cloth (baris putih) and the other wear black one (baris selem). The dancers wear unique costume, trouser, shirt, sarong shawl, black spectacles and hat. The hat that is used in this dance is similar to the hat that was used by Chinese.

The performance of Baris Cina dance comprise of three parts. For the first part the dancers who wear black clothes (baris selem) dance with the accompaniment of baris gede (big baris) melody, for the second part, the dancers who wear white clothes (baris putih) dance with the accompaniment of baris cenik (small baris melody). And for the finale, both of the groups (baris selem and baris putih) dance together, enacting a battle scene.

The movements of this dance imitate the artistic motion of martial art “Pencak Silat” and each dancer brings a saber as a weapon. Baris Cina dance is accompanied by Gong Beri (gong without snout), a special musical ensemble designed only for accompanying this sacred dance.

It is common for the dancers of Baris Cina to be entranced during the performance. the enactment of the battle scene in the third part of the dance can turn into a real fighting scene, the dancers speak incomprehensible or foreign language (some say it was Chinese), and at the end of the dance, the dancers usually pass out.

Before performing this sacred dance, the dancers and the musicians observe certain taboos such as refrain from eating pork and avoiding sexual intercourse in order to purify the mind of the dancers and the musicians.

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