What is LEGONG DANCE BALI ...?

LEGONG DANCE & history

What is Legong Dance Bali  ...?

Legong Dance is the art of classical Balinese dance was originally developed in Peliatan Village, the famous art village of Ubud, Gianyar regency which was originally staged to entertain the king and his family.

Legong is a classical dance of Bali which has a very complex motion that is bound by the sound of percussion accompaniment that is the influence of Gambuh. Originally Legong word comes from the word "leg" which means the supple and flexible then interpreted as graceful movement. While the word "gong" which means the gamelan, which merged to become the "Legong" which means that movement is bound or affected by the accompanying gamelan .

Legong dance than as a basis dance is also a prima donna of the various types of classical Balinese dance. Legong Dance is flexible, bending with dynamic motion brought by several female dancers . Legong dance is sometimes performed by two girls or more. started by condong appearance  figure as the opening Legong dance, but there is also a Legong dance is only performed by one or two pairs of dancers Legong  without displaying the figure Condong . Characteristic of the Legong dance is the dancer's fan usage  except Condong figure.

The story of Legong Dance is written in Babad Dalem Sukawati recorded around the early 19th century. At that time the area of Sukawati, Gianyar, is famous as an area skilled dancers.

According to the story, I Dewa Agung Made Karna that have spiritual ability, do hermitage at Pura Agung Yogan Ketewel village, Sukawati. At that time he had a vision , to saw of some figures beautiful maidens who fly in space, by demonstrating a dance which is fabulous. So after waking up from hermitage, he ordered the artists in the village ketewel to make some masks and create dances in accordance with the vision of the hermitage. Then, created nine masks as a form of nine angels in Hindu mythology. Then the two dancers Sanghyang ordered to dance the dance. Sanghyang dancers are dancers young girls who was chosen not only because of talent, but also sensitive to trance, and have never menstruation.

Sang Hyang Legong is a mask dance performed by two dancers. where dance is with the original mask is still staged at Pura Agung Yogan  at a piodalan ceremony held once in every 210 days  according to Balinese calender.

Sanghyang Legong dance, it inspire a dance group from the village Blahbatuh lead by I Gusti Ngurah Jelantik to create a new dance in similar style. But the different is, where the dancers are men and not wearing a mask. This dance is called Nandir. This is the early beginning of dance legong is created what we now to know at time being. Beginning At the The King of Sukawati  impressed watching nandir dance performances, and then ordered the artists in Sukawati to create a similar dance for young girls in his palace.

There are three styles of the famous Legong dance in Bali. Legong dance Peliatan genre  ,  Legong dance Saba genre  and Legong dance Badung genre . Among the three types of style Legong dance, peliatan genre is the only one that more active  in conducting Peliatan Legong Dance performances as a dance spectacle for the tourists