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THE DANCES OF BALI - Part 4
SANGHYANG DANCE
The word Sanghyang mean "deity" and per-formers of the sacred Sanghyang Dence are said to be possessed by specific deities who enable them to perform supernatural feats. Their role is an overtly exocistic one they assist in warding off pestilence and getting rid of black magic. Trance is induced through incense smoke and chanting by two groups off villager women who sing the praises of the gods and ask them to descend, and a chorus of men who imitate the gambelan using the word 'cak' and other sounds.
SANGHYANG DEDARI
In Sanghyang Dedari two pre-pubescent girls (chose through a "trance test") are gradually put into trance, dresses in costumes very similar to the legong (many scholars feel that the legong developed from this form). They are the carried on palanquins or shoulders around the village, stopping at magically charged spots, such as crossroads, bridges and in front of the homes of people who can Tran transform themselves into leyakOr witches.
After this, the Sanghyangs lead the villagers back to a dancing arena at the temple or bale banjar, where with eyes closed, they dance for up to four hours. Stories from the legong repertoire or dramatic forms based on the Calonarang and Cupak are reenacted. In some villages, the Sanghyang dedari execute the entire dance on the shoulders of men, performing astounding acrobatic feats. This par of the ritual is accompanied by a complete gambelan group, who have been thoroughly trained and rehearsed.
SANGHYANG JARAN
In Sanghyang Jaran, a small number of men are put into trance, but their transition is much more violent - they fall, convulsed, to the ground and rush to grab hobbyhorses. During the pre-trance chanting, coconut shells have been lit, leaving red-hot coals. The trancers are said to be attracted by all forms of fire and onlookers are required not to smoke. The entranced dancer leap into the coals, prancing on top of them, picking up the hot pieces and bathing themselves in fire. Only kecak chorus men accompany the Sanghyangs.
Both types of Sanghyang may be see four times a week in Bona, where it is claimed that the dancer are indeed possessed, though by lesser deities.
BARIS
A dance of war, the Baris is strongly masculine and yet also display a strong sensitivity in the myriad of moods and expressions displays a strong sensitivity in the myriad of moods and expressions displayed within one dance. The Baris Gede, a sacral dance performed usually dressed warriors with distinctive triangular white headdresses bearing weapons: spears, spiked shields or swords. They dance in line, posing aggressively before attacking each other in simulated battles.
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