Tari Legong

Legong Keraton Lasem

A classic dance telling the story of King Lasem who fell in love with the Princess Rangkesari of Daha kingdom. King Lasem abducted her and wanted her as his wife. However, it appeared that Rangkesari wanted nothing to do with him. The King of Daha, who was Rangkesari's older brother, declared war on King Lasem. On his way there, the King of Lasem's horse fell and at that moment a fierce bird swooped down and attacked the king. This was an omen that King Lasem would die in battle. Ignoring this omen, King Lasem went into battle and was killed, and the princess Rangkesari returned to Daha with her brother.

In the dance you will first see the Condong or maidsevant who does a solo abstract dance. Then the two Legong dancers appear and dance in unison.

When the story begins, they split up and the one downstage becomes the princess Rangkesari and the upstage one becomes King Lasem. The scene that ensure is one of spurned seduction. The Princess goes offstage. The next scene in this versos of the dance, show the encounter between King Lasem and the bird of ill omen.

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Genta Bhuana Sari

Legong Kuntir

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Legong Jobog

This dance is based on the story of two brothers, King Subali and Sugriwa, who were turned into monkeys.
At the beginning of the dance the two brothers, represented by the Legong, are living peacefully together.
After some time we see the two as monkeys (this has happened because of acts not show in the dance : Princess Dewi Anjani had brought a powerful magic, and both brothers had wanted it : but her father had thrown it into a river which transforms into a monkeys whoever jumps into it, and both brothers had leapt in after the magic).
Since as monkey they do not know each other, they fight.
Finally when neither one wins or loses, they become tired and recognize each as Subali and Sugriwa, see that they have been changed into monkey and become very sad.

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Legong Kuntul

This classical dance depicts a flock of white herons as they go about their daily activities.

It is a group dance, performed by 4-8 dancers, who imitate the actions of the herons as they fly around, playing together and searching for food together in the paddy field.

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Legong Playon

LEGONG of the classic

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Legong Semarandana

LEGONG of the love and passion

Semara a god of love and passion, is a son of Siva (an Indian god of destruction and dance). First coming on the stage are Semara and his new bride Ratih, a goddess of moon. Ratih dancer retreats to the backstage for one moment and appears again putting on the mask of shedevil, Rangda. Then the story begins. Once, one of Raksasa (starved, beast-like giant tribes interior to man, with inborn power of demon), named Nilaludraka, was anxious to acquire the power to control this world and was practising meditation. Siva descending onto this earthly world, was so impressed with his enthusiasm that she gave him the mighty power, which could ever be over come neither by gods nor man, except Siva and half animal monsters. Never experiencing any defeat, Nilaludraka continued challenging battles one after another, until there was none left in heaven and on earth any more to compete with. All gods were flustered.

Unfortunately, Siva was devoted to meditation at the top of the Himalayas. No one could approach him, because his wrath may turn any one to ashes at once. Gods gathered and conceived a plan to send the son of Siva, Semara, to the Himalayas as their envoy. Semara, in spite of his new bridge Ratih's strong opposition, resolutely departed and Ratih followed him with tears. As they approach the Himalayas, the meditation of Siva was apparently disturbed. With rage, Siva laid Semara, Ratih and all in ashes in a moment. Opening his eyes from meditation, Siva faced squarely to the death of his son and wife. Lamenting for their unexpected death, Siva scattered the ashes all over the world (thanks to this, it is said, man has love in his hearth). Encouraged by love of Semara, Siva and his wife Parwati got a child, half-animal monster, who would conquer Nilaludraka.

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Legong Untung Surapati

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