Music, dance and storytellingSoutheast Asia
Legong
In its own language: légong
A refined Balinese dance of intricate finger movements and expressive gestures, kept in Indonesia.
Legong is a classical dance form from Bali, Indonesia. It features dancers performing complex footwork and delicate hand gestures to gamelan music. Traditionally performed by young girls, it now includes performers of all ages and genders.
When is Legong kept?
Legong is kept at public festivals and for entertainment.
Legong is a refined dance form from Bali, Indonesia. Dancers use intricate finger movements and expressive gestures to tell stories. The performance is accompanied by gamelan music. It began as royal entertainment and is now kept by the Balinese community.
Origins and history
The dance likely started in the nineteenth century as entertainment for royalty. One legend says a prince dreamed of two maidens dancing to gamelan music while he was ill. After he recovered, he had the dance performed. Others link it to sanghyang dedari, a ceremony where spirits possessed young girls. Today, excerpts are shown at public festivals and for tourists.
Dancers and training
Traditionally, only prepubescent girls performed this dance. They began rigorous training around age five. These dancers were highly respected and often married into royal or wealthy families. They usually stopped dancing after marriage. Modern practice allows dancers of any age. Men sometimes perform in women's costumes today.
Stories and roles
Classical Legong enacts tales like the story of King Lasem from the Malat romances. Lasem seeks to marry Princess Rangkesari, who flees but is captured. A monstrous raven foretells his death. Two main actresses play the lovers. A third dancer, called a condong, sets the scene and plays the raven. Movements are stylized pantomime.
Types and styles
Fifteen traditional types of Legong existed. Each varied in duration, movement, and narrative. Some performances lasted an hour. Examples include Legong Bapang Sabab, Legong Jebog, and Legong Kraton. Legong Lasem tells the specific story of the king. These variations show the depth of the art form across different contexts.
How Legong is kept
Two or three dancers perform on stage. They move to the rhythm of gamelan instruments. Their fingers twist intricately while their feet execute complex steps. Facial expressions convey the story's emotions. A condong dancer introduces the scene and hands fans to the main performers. The group acts out heroic romances through stylized pantomime. Audiences watch these performances at festivals or cultural events.
When and where
It is performed at public festivals and for entertainment purposes. There is no fixed calendar date. Performances happen whenever the community gathers or when tourists visit.
The dance originates from Bali, Indonesia. It is strongest there as part of Balinese culture. It is also known in Australia through popular music references.
What Legong means
The dance reflects Balinese artistic refinement. It connects to royal heritage and spiritual legends. The intricate movements require discipline and respect. Historically, dancers gained high social status. The performance preserves ancient stories and musical traditions.
Questions people ask about Legong
When is Legong kept?
Legong is kept at public festivals and for entertainment.
Where is Legong kept?
Legong belongs to the traditions of Indonesia and Australia, and is tied most closely to Bali.
Who keeps Legong?
As our sources describe it, Legong is kept by Balinese people. Many other communities and families now share it too.
See also
Glove puppetryA traditional theatre of cloth-bodied puppets with carved wooden heads and live music
Irish traditional musicA living folk practice of dance tunes, airs, songs and communal pub sessions
Morris danceA rhythmic English folk dance performed in costume with bells, sticks and handkerchiefs
Irish stepdanceA percussive dance form with swift, intricate footwork and an upright torsoGood reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Three genres of traditional dance in BaliUNESCO, Heritage listing
- Three genres of traditional dance in BaliUNESCO, Article
- Legong on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Legong", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.
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