Dancers dressed as a Barong take part in a mesmerising performance in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
The Barong is a lion-like creature in Balinese mythology, and is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good, and enemy of Rangda the demon queen.
The battle between Barong and Rangda features heavily in Balinese traditional dances, and represents the eternal struggle between good and evil.
The Barong is brought to life by several performers, and looks like a grinning pantomime horse!
Every night in Ubud – the cultural capital of Bali – you can see performances by Indonesia’s finest dancers.
As you explore Ubud, you’ll be accosted by hustlers trying to sell tickets for a wide variety of evening shows.
If you don’t like to be hassled, the main tourist office has a weekly diary of events, which offers a good overview of the different dances and performances you can see in Ubud.
Often the stories portrayed in these shows are puzzling and difficult to follow.
But as Balinese performances are otherworldly and magical, you’ll be bewitched by the dancers’ elaborate costumes and graceful moves.
