Every morning, professional dancers perform a colorful Barong dance in Batubulan, one of the historical centers of the arts on the stretch between Denpasar and Ubud. Besides the best dancers on the island, this village boasts a community of skilled stone carvers, who sell their goods along roadside shops. Watching a Barong dance is a great introduction to the world of Balinese dance, often inspired by religion. The story is loosely derived from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, Indian stories with a huge influence on art, society and culture all over Asia. It explains how the Balinese deal with Good and Evil by keeping these universal forces in a delicate balance. Watching a Barong dance is a great introduction to the world of Balinese dance, often inspired by religion.