Baris

The word Baris means line, in the sense of a line of soldiers, and refers to the warriors who fought for the kings of Bali. Baris dance is a solo warrior dance which originally was a religious ritual dance, the dedication of warriors and their weapons during a temple feast.

The dancer must go through hard training to obtain the skill and flexibility that symbolizes the courteous style of the dance. The dancer must convey the characteristics of a warrior such as fierceness, pride, alertness, compassion, and regret. Baris dance is accompanied by a gamelan orchestra, and the gamelan must be entirely in tune to the changing moods of the warrior's will.