Reog is a traditional Indonesian dance, while there are many types of Reog, the most notable ones are Reog Ponorogo, from East Java. The main figure of this dance is figure known as the singa barong.
The singa barong mask is a large mask of a lion, with a large fan adorned with real peafowl feathers. This is a wide mask spans over 2.5 meters and the weight is about 30 – 60 kg. Sometimes the dancer will carry a boy or girl on top of that mask. The main dancer will carry this heavy mask by biting, rely on his teeth, neck, and shoulder. Crazy stuff.
A magical atmosphere emerges as the barong performer lifts the tiger headed Dadak Merak (costume) weighing 60 kg by biting it. For this reason, the barong performer is given incantation by Warok (a person in charge of the group). Then, Klono Sewandono begins to seduce Reog dancers, a scene that illustrates the king’s hunt for the lion.
In Bedingin village, Sambit District, Ponorogo Regency, live cultural rituals that are always accompanied by Reog, specifically Kenduri Besar (Great Banquet). This tradition that originally had been performed after harvest was then acknowledged as a mass activity which unexpectedly strengthened the unity for the people of the Bedingin village.
At that event, since the evening, people in this area would light a torch or candle -- no electricity -- as one of the requirements of the procession. It's somehow magical and spooky, but it was a really great experience to be there with them. There were so many traditional art performances, traditional dances with fascinating costumes, but, Reog was really stealing the show :)
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