Bali - The Legong

My favorite of the Balinese Dances, the Legong is a palace dance that features the prettiest young girls. The dancers used to be (and sometimes still are) hand picked by the local prince.

Gorgeous costumes and an array of eye, shoulder, hand, head, hip, and foot movements dazzle us.

No part of  the costume or the dancer is wasted. 
Flowers jiggle.  Balls swing. Material sways. 
Eyes dart. Fingers part. And the feet arch and curl.

Don't misunderstand me.
The Legong is not slowly seductive, like the hula. 

Nor is it an explosive celebration, like the Tahitian Dances.
And it's not stately, like the Japanese or Korean dances.

Balinese dance is all of this, and none of this.

When performed well, there is a perfect synchronization between the Tjondong and the gamelan orchestra.
Crisp, precise movements highlight the crystalline ringing of the gamelan.

The Legong follows (loosely) a story about a princess, a king, a kidnapping, and a bird of omen.
But then, even among the Balinese, no one really watches the Legong for the plot.

When we're in Bali, we try to see at least a couple of different legong dances.

As an added treat, tomorrows' Legongs are practicing today at the Ubud Palace.

In another 3 years, this princess-in-training will probably be transfixing me and and plenty of others.