If you’re asked about the first word that comes to mind when you hear Balinese Dance, your answer is perhaps Kecak Dance. Besides Kecak, can you mention other dances? Well, if the answer is no, you have to go to the Klungkung area. You’ll find other Balinese dances, as lively as the Kecak Dance.

The Sacred Baris Jangkang Dance 

Baris Jangkang dance is a sacred dance from Pelilit Village, Pinginutan Village, Nusa Penida District, Klungkung Regency. This dance movement is quite difficult to imitate. The dancers are required to use spears as additional attributes, where the use of additional attributes is very rarely embedded in Balinese dance in general. This is what makes the Baris Jangkang Dance unique.

This dance is performed by nine adult men with the formation in the direction of the compass. The costumes used when dancing consist of udeng as headdresses, white long-sleeved shirts, woven cloths or typical Nusa Penida cloth, white kamen cloth, white trousers, and scarves. This complete all-white costume depicts the dancers' readiness to start dancing. While the spear, which is an attribute, will be filled with thatch leaves at the ends. It symbolizes the form of a formidable warrior who is brave enough to face the enemy. 

The music used to accompany the Baris Jangkang dance is called Gamelan Batel. Gamelan Batel consists of 2 pieces of kendang, 1 betuk, 1 cenceng kecil and kempur. Kembur musk tool itself is quite sacred, you know. In the past, kempur made of bronze was used as a place to eat pork. But kempur also has magical power. When this object is hit, it will make a sound that can make enemies run. 

Yes, this dance was formerly danced to repel the enemy during the attack in Pelilit Village. When the Gamelan Batel is beaten, enemies who hear it will flee because the grasses around will look as if they have turned into spearheads and keris. Because of the success in fooling the enemy, it's no wonder this dance has become a sacred dance. 

But now the Baris Jangkang Dance is only performed to accompany certain ceremonial processions at the ceremonial venues. In addition to being performed at the temple, the staging was also held in the houses of the residents who were holding a naur celebration. 

However, if you want to watch this dance performance, there is no need to wait until there is a ceremony or naur sesangi. Because the Government of Klungkung Regency is actively performing this dance during the Semarapura Festival, Nusa Penida Festival, and the Bali Arts Festival every year. This effort was made to preserve the Jangkang Line Dance. It’s also paid off where the Baris Jangkang Dance officially became Warisan Budaya Tak Benda milik Indonesia (the Non-Object Cultural Heritage of Indonesia).