Legong
Legong is a refined classical dance of Bali, Indonesia, which probably emerged in the nineteenth century as royal entertainment. It was traditionally danced by young girls who began training around the age of five, although adults and men in female costume now also perform it. The style shows intricate finger movements, complicated footwork and expressive gestures and facial expressions.
A gamelan orchestra accompanies the dance. A classic story tells of a king of Lasem who captures Princess Rangkesari, mimed by two dancers with an attendant called the condong. Legong belongs to the wider tradition of Balinese dance, which UNESCO inscribed in 2015 as three genres: sacred, semi-sacred and entertainment dances, transmitted informally to children within communities.
Sources
- Legong (Wikipedia)
- Three genres of traditional dance in Bali (UNESCO)
- Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi Bali (official site)
Organisations connected with this dance
- Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi Bali (Bali Provincial Culture Office)
- Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar
Listed as references; being listed is not an endorsement by or of the organisation.