Legong Festival in Bali

Legong Festival in Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: The Walter Spies Foundation is holding a festival of Legong, classical Balinese dance, later this month.

"This year's festival is one of our social concerns to preserve the rich traditions that, we believe, support modern life," said Dian Syarif of Bank Bali, which is co-sponsoring the event.

Legong is one of Bali's most classic dance genres and is very basic to Balinese performing arts. The festival is part of a tribute to the German painter Walter Spies, who is considered the gate-opener for Balinese arts and artists to the modern world and modern market.

"In terms of music or movements, Legong is so fundamental that so many of the more modern dances take their elements from it," says A.A.M. Djelantik, a lecturer of the Indonesian College of Arts (STSI) in Denpasar. "But many of the dances have become extinct because of modernized social complexities," he said.

The Legong dances will be performed at STSI (April 20), Wantilan Taman Ayun Temple in Mengwi (April 21), Agung Rai Museum at Ubud (April 22) and STSI Open Stage (April 23). A seminar and a workshop on the Legong will also be held concurrently. (Benito Lopulatan)