legong

Legong probably originated in the 19th century as royal entertainment. Legend has it that a prince of Sukawati fell ill and had a vivid dream in which two maidens danced to gamelan music. When he recovered, he arranged for such dances to be performed in reality. Others believe that the Legong originated with the sanghyang dedari, a ceremony involving voluntary possession of two little girls by beneficent spirits.Miguel Covarrubias, Island of Bali. Knopf, 1946. Legong is also danced at public festivals. Excerpts from Legong dance dramas are put on for tourists.

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Legong danseressen Saba TMnr 60030392.jpg

Traditionally, legong dancers were girls who had not yet reached puberty. They began rigorous training at about the age of five. These dancers were regarded highly in the society and usually became wives of royal personages or wealthy merchants.[http://balinesedance.blogspot.com/ Dance and Drama], by Budi Anjarwani, page found 2010-07-30. They would usually stop dancing after marriage. However, in present, Indonesia dancers may be of all ages;{{cite news|title=Tari Legong Tak Mengenal Usia |trans-title=Legong Dance Knows No Age |language=Indonesian |url=http://lifestyle.okezone.com/read/2014/11/29/406/1072412/tari-legong-tak-mengenal-usia |date=29 November 2014 |work=Okezone.com |access-date=23 January 2016 |archive-date=30 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130040706/http://lifestyle.okezone.com/read/2014/11/29/406/1072412/tari-legong-tak-mengenal-usia |url-status=dead }} performances by men in women's costumes are also recorded.{{cite news|title=Jakun Tak Bisa 'Menipu', Tari Legong Ini Ternyata Ditarikan 6 Orang Pria |trans-title=They Can't Lie: This Legong Dance Is Performed by Six Men |url=http://bali.tribunnews.com/2015/06/20/jakun-tak-bisa-menipu-tari-legong-ini-ternyata-ditarikan-6-orang-pria |date=20 June 2015 |work=Tribun |access-date=23 January 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305043045/http://bali.tribunnews.com/2015/06/20/jakun-tak-bisa-menipu-tari-legong-ini-ternyata-ditarikan-6-orang-pria |url-status=dead }}

Classical Legong enacts several traditional stories. The most common is the tale of the East Javanese king of Lasem from the Malat, a collection of heroic romances. He is at war with another king, the father (or brother) of Princess Rangkesari. Lasem wants to marry the girl, but she detests him and tries to run away. Becoming lost in the forest, she is captured by Lasem, who imprisons her and goes out for a final assault against her family. He is attacked by a monstrous raven, which foretells his death.

The dramatics are enacted in elaborate and stylized pantomime. The two little actresses are accompanied by a third dancer called a condong or attendant. She sets the scene, presents the dancers with their fans and later plays the part of the raven.

Traditionally, fifteen types of legong dance were known. The duration, movement, and narrative of each type differed. Some, for instance, could last for an hour. These types included:{{Cite journal|title=Balinese Legong: Revival or Decline? |last=Davies |first=Stephen |volume=23 |issue=2 |date=2006 |pages=314–341 |doi=10.1353/atj.2006.0018 |work=Asian Theatre Journal }}

• Legong Bapang Sabab
• Legong Jebog
• Legong Kraton
• Legong Kuntir
• Legong Lasem
• Legong Raja Cina
• Legong Semarandana
• Legong Sudasarna

File:Barisan Penari Bali.jpg|Legong Dance performance

File:Bali-Danse 0703a.jpg

90th anniversary of Ganjuran Church, Bantul, Yogyakarta, 2014-05-03 12.jpg

Tari Legong Kuntul.jpg

Dayu, oil on canvas, 80 x 100 cm, 2012.JPG

Gerard Pieter Adolfs - 1944 Nr14 Lègong Bali OOC 80 60.JPG

La balinese (Barong dancer).jpg

Garuda Legong Dance - oil painting by Noella Roos.jpg

Romualdo Locatelli - Legong Dancer.jpg

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• Balinese dances
• Legong: Dance of the Virgins, a 1935 film
• Dance of Indonesia

Legong is mentioned in "I've Been To Bali Too", the single by Australian folk-rock band Redgum from their 1984 album Frontline.

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20020625173430/http://www.balivision.com/Article_Resources/Legong.asp Legong Keraton]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpWxEXh5SOI Legong dance]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c11F8O6E93E Tari Legong Lasem part 1]

{{Dance in Bali}}

{{Dance of Indonesia}}

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Category:Balinese culture

Category:Dances of Bali