History of Legong Dance

History of Legong Dance

Legong dance in Bali's cultural treasures belonging to the type of classical dance since the beginning of its development stems from the royal palace in Bali. The dance was once only enjoyed by the royal family in their neighborhood that is in the palace as a dance entertainment. The dancers who have been appointed to this dance in the presence of a king will certainly feel a great pleasure, because not just anyone can get into the palace.

Balinesse Dance-Legong DanceRegarding the beginning of creation in Balinese Legong dance is through a very lengthy process. According to the Chronicle Dalem Sukawati, Legong is created based on a dream I Dewa Agung Made Karna, the king who reigned in 1775-1825 Sukawati M. When he was doing penance in the village of Pura Agung Jogan Ketewel (Sukawati region), he dreamed of seeing fairies are dancing in heaven. They dance with a headdress made of gold.

When he is mindful of their meditation, he immediately decreed Bendesa Ketewel to make some face masks which appear in his dreams when doing meditation in Jogan Pura Agung and also ordered to make a dance that is similar to the dream. Finally Bendesa Ketewel was able to
complete nine sacred masks as requested by I Dewa Agung Made Karna. Sang Hyang Legong dance performances can be staged at Pura Agung Jogan by two female dancers.

Shortly after the Sang Hyang Legong dance is created, a group dance performance led Blahbatuh Nandir of I Gusti Ngurah Jelantik perform a play which witnessed King I Dewa Agung Mangosteen, King of Gianyar at the time. He is very interested in dance who has a style similar to Sang Hyang Legong dance is, as he commissioned two artists from Sukawati to restructure by means of two female dancers as dancers. Since that created the classic Legong we are witnessing today.

When viewed from the root, Legong derived from the word "leg" which means flexible or elastic, and the word "gong" which means the gamelan. Both the root of the word when combined will mean a movement so tied up (especially the accentuation) by accompanying gamelan (Dibia, 1999:37).

Dancers also are people who come from outside the palace which is the dancer of choice by the king at the time. So it is not surprising that the dancers feel tremendous pride when Legong dance at the palace. Similarly, the creator of dance. Would be a great honor when trusted to create a dance by an entrepreneur that era. Although they never mentioned the name of creating a dance to the public, provided that they do not question it was asked to create based on a true heart and full of flavor offerings to the king. It can be seen from almost all classical dances and other dance traditions that developed outside the palace as Legong, Line, Jauk and masks.

Now in the days that are no longer adhere to understand feudalism, keseian Legong has been progressing very rapidly in terms of quantity and quality. Mentioned that the Legong Kraton (as developed in the palace) out of the palace at the beginning of the 19th century. The female dancers who formerly practiced and Legong dance at the palace is now returning to their villages to teach this type of dance to the community. As known, the Balinese are a very creative person so that each dance style was slightly different according to the abilities brought him. Therefore, arise style-style Palegongan scattered in various areas such as the village of Saba, Peliatan, Bedulu, Binoh, Kelandis and several other places. Of all the regional development of the Legong dance, Saba and Peliatan only village that still maintains his trademark strong and able to create other types of dance Palegongan with different names.

Legong dances in Bali was originally accompanied by a gamelan called Gamelan Pelegongan. Gamelan device consists of two pairs of gender-vines, gangsa squat, a gong, kemong, kempluk, klenang, krumpungan pair of drums, flutes, fiddle, jublag, jegog, gentorang. In addition, there is an interpreter tandak to reinforce the character and the narrator's story through song. However, as the popularity of gamelan gong kebyar in Bali, finally palegongan these dances can be accompanied by a gamelan gong kebyar, because the level of flexibility.

info from
http://anacaraka.info/history-of-legong-dance#.URkd92dhlHQ
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