Exploring Legong Dance: A Timeless Dance of Balinese Tradition
Dance performances are one of the attractions that you should not miss if you go to Bali. One of the most beautiful traditional dances is the Legong Dance.
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In this article I will explain more about Legong Dance and where you can watch it.
The Legong Dance is one of the most visually enchanting
Balinese royal court performances. One of the most cherished traditions on the
island, the dance is recognized for its quick movements and physically taxing
postures that demand a great deal of flexibility from its often youthful female
dancers. This dance, which was masterfully choreographed using the most
intricate set patterns, has endured for many years.
Enjoy Historical Vibe:
In Balinese, legong comes from the word 'leg' which means
flexible dance movements, and 'gong' which is an element of gamelan. Legong can
be interpreted as a dance whose movements are closely tied to the music and
gamelan accompaniment.
Legong Dance Legend
There is a story that says that a prince named Prince
Sukawati had a dream when he was sick. In his dream, the prince saw two women
dancing very gracefully to the accompaniment of Balinese gamelan.
The dance movements combined with music made Prince Sukawati
illustrate them in choreographed movements guided by traditional leaders.
Finally, when Sukawati recovered, she taught the dance to the women in the
kingdom.
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From there, the sacred Legong dance was born. The Legong
dance originated in the palace and slowly became known to the public.
Closer to Balinese family:
Then, the dance was taught by several Balinese dance
teachers who came from various villages. This teacher then taught his students
and used legong as the main part of the odalan ceremony.
About The Dance
The dance structure generally consists of Papeseon, Pangawak, Pangecet and Pakaad. As usual, Legong dancers always carry fans. In Tista Village (Tabanan) there is another type of Legong called Andir (Nandir) at Pajogan Agung Temple (Ketewel) there is also a Legong dance that uses a mask called Sangyang Legong or LegongTopeng.
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The areas considered to be the source
areas for Legong in Bali are: Saba, Pejeng, Peliatan (Gianyar), Binoh, Kuta
(Badung) and Tista (Tabanan).
Where Can You Find Legong Dance?
Here are places where you can watch Legong Dance
performances:
Cultural Events and Temples:
Experiencing Legong Keraton through customary rites and
festivals in Bali is one of the best options. During religious celebrations,
temples such as Pura Saraswati in Ubud frequently include dance performances,
such as Legong Keraton. These gatherings offer a genuine and engaging
environment to experience the beauty and cultural relevance of the dance.
Try this Balinese food on your holiday:
Artistic Hubs and Exhibitions:
For the enjoyment of both locals and visitors, a number of
cultural centers and dance schools throughout Bali frequently present Legong
Keraton performances. Balinese dance performances, including Legong Keraton,
are frequently featured at locations like the Ubud Palace, Bali Cultural Center
(Denpasar), and ARMA Museum. These events provide tourists a chance to witness
the grace and creativity of this traditional dance.
Conclusion
To experience Legong Keraton's charm and grace is to take a
thrilling voyage into Bali's creative essence. The dance, which can be seen at
temples during ceremonial occasions, cultural shows, or specialist tours, is
still a symbol of Balinese heritage and gives visitors an insight into the
dynamic and enduring cultural fabric of the island.
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Hopefully the experience of watching this beautiful Legong
Dance can be one of the most valuable experiences in your holiday!
References:
https://www.denpasarkota.go.id/seni/tari-legong-keraton
https://www.traveloka.com/id-id/activities/indonesia/product/legong-dance-show-tickets-at-ubud-palace-bali-6446403629738
https://www.liputan6.com/regional/read/5063550/sejarah-tari-legong-yang-lahir-dari-mimpi-raja-bali?page=2
Flashing back to my childhood when i used to learn this Legong Dance. To me, as a kid, it was quite hard to remember all the dance sequences back then. However, I still admit that Legong Dance is indeed beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBali has captivated my eyes for ages, it has so many wonderful arts, culture, as well as the nature. Love Bali and hope that I can be there soon.
ReplyDeleteSelalu amazed dg tarian Bali. Saya mah jaipong aja gabisa, sok-sokan pengen belajar Legong
ReplyDeleteMenikmati pertunjukan tari Bali selalu menimbulkan kekaguman tersendiri bagiku. Kostum tarinya cantik, gerakannya atraktif..itu hanya sebagian sumber kekagumanku. Yang jelas tari Bali termasuk Legong ini sangaaat menarik!
ReplyDeleteLegong from ubud Kingdom - Bali ?
ReplyDeleteBalinesse dance that depend on kingdom area around Bali.
I remembered when I learned legong dance in senior high school. Some balinese people said that legong keraton dance is one of the difficult dance. ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteAku tu penikmat segala macam jenis seni, termasuk seni tari. Apalagi tari tradisional seperti Legong yang magis penuh makna, berpadu dengan musik yang selalu menggetarkan hati.
ReplyDeletebelum pernah lihat tari bali langsung saya. semoga nanti ada kesempatan ke bali bersama keluarga dan menonton tarian bali yang indah ini
ReplyDeleteTarian khas Bali itu rumit makanya keindahannya khas, tak tergantikan. Lihat saja mulai riasan, kostum sampai gerakan tarian itu sendiri, semuanya sangat memukau
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting to learn about the culture and history behind it. Thank you for this article about Legong dance and I just found out that there are several types.
ReplyDeleteTari Legong itu ternyata di beberapa daerah di Bali berbeda-beda, ya kak? Baru tahu juga jika struktur para penari Legong itu ada Papeseon, Pangawak, Pangecet and Pakaad, boleh tahu detail artinya kah kak?
ReplyDelete