Baris Dance

The Oberoi Hotel, Bali

This traditional war dance, in full costume with mask, glorifies the hero and celebrates his courage as he prepares to go to battle. The hero's mask portrays a calm expression, no doubt to project the important Balinese ideal of being alus: refined, imperturbable, and self-controlled, like the sophrosyne of the ancient Greeks or the unflappable composure of a James Bond; "never lose your cool," as we would say.