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Sunday was a busy night for barongsai troupes. The lion dance, a staple of Chinese New Year celebrations, was banned during the Suharto era, but made a huge comeback thanks to former President Abdurrahman ‘Gus Dur’ Wahid.
Today, Julian Jansen breaks down the art of the lion dance and teaches us a little about its history.

Which role is more difficult, being the head or the rear?

Both are difficult in different ways. The person playing the head needs to think a lot. All the movements are controlled by the head. Plus, the head has to operate the ears, eyes and mouth of the lion. The person at the rear needs strong feet and determines the stability of the barongsai.

Do you always play the head?

We are trained to perform all the roles. Once I get tired, I will move to the rear or will play the drums, gong or cymbal.

How many people are there in one group?

Around 30 people in my group. As you see, Chinese Indonesians and native Indonesians combine well to perform the dance.

What does the color of the barongsai mean?

Nothing special. The most common colors of barongsai are black, red, yellow and white. We just have the yellow and white one.

Is there any peak season?

Orders always peak during Sin Cia [Chinese New Year]. But we also get orders for weddings or from companies.

Why do they want to use barongsai?

Barongsai is very powerful at ousting evil spirits and bringing hoki [luck] at the same time. Companies usually book us for their first day of opening.

How much do you charge for each performance?

We don’t set a price. It’s totally on a voluntary basis.

How do you divide up the payment?

We divvy it up among the group. Plus we give part of it to charity. We believe that what goes around will come around. The more we give, the more we will get later.

What do you do to pump yourself up before you perform?

We pray first, for sure. After that we will write fu [the Chinese character for prosperity] on the head of the barongsai. Some people will burn hio [incense] and put it on the head of the barongsai, but we don’t usually burn incense.

What’s the most difficult part of your act?

Salto [flip]. It’s difficult and high risk. Have you ever seen a barongsai dance competition? Usually we have to dance on pillars, it’s really difficult. The pillar we stand on is 38 centimeters wide, the distance between the pillars is around 75 cm and the pillars extend for 10 to 15 meters. We have to dance along those pillars.

Aren’t you afraid to dance on them?

I’m well-trained, but I’ve fallen many times in training. Don’t worry if you see the dancers fall from the pillars, there is a mattress below them. One barongsai has two dancers. Both of you have to move as one; if not, you fall. Barongsai is all about teamwork and trust. We communicate with each other inside. My partner’s hands are on my waist all the time to make sure that we move together as one.

Do you practice every day?

We practice every Wednesday and Sunday.

Why did you join the barongsai group?

Because it’s a hobby. I have quit school. I simply help my mother and practice barongsai.

How old are you now?

Fifteen. I finished junior high school last year and I have no motivation to continue my education.

Why?

I’m lazy [about going back to school].

Any other reasons?

I don’t want to tell you.

Do you know the history of barongsai?

Yeah. Once upon a time in China, there was a very powerful yet unruly barongsai called Kilin. He used to make trouble for the local people, so they hatched a plan to kill him. But then someone suggested that instead of murdering him it would be better to turn him into a good barongsai. So the people selected someone who was well liked because he was pleasant to everybody and dressed him up as a barongsai. The local people showed him so much respect and admiration that this caused the wayward barongsai to grow jealous. So he decided to change his behavior, becoming nicer and more protective of the local people.

Another version is that at one time the Chinese people were disturbed by many devils. So two people donned a barongsai costume and successfully ousted the devils. The lion is a sacred and powerful animal in Chinese mythology. It’s the symbol of power and authority. That’s why many Chinese houses have two lion statues outside acting as gatekeepers.

Can I join your barongsai group?

Sure. You should consider barongsai as a sport. There is no age limit. Anyone of any age can join us. But to be among the best, I would suggest starting to learning barongsai at around 10 years old. My group was formed in 2002 in Tangerang. I joined the group at that time.