Excellent, magnificent, incredible, beautiful, these adjectives are overuse when describing a Balinese dance and musical performance, but these adjectives are definitely not good enough to describe the Balinese dance and musical performances on the first day of Mengenang Sang Guru: A Tribute to Anak Agung Gde Mandera and Gusti Made Sengog, Sunday, 8/26/07.

Left: Gabor (Pendet) dance, middle & right: Legong Lasem dance

The performances on the first day of Mengenang Sang Guru: A Tribute to Anak Agung Gde Mandera and Gusti Made Sengog could be called the performances of the veterans in which the older generation of the pupils of Anak Agung Gde Mandera (affectionately called ‘Gungkak’) and Gusti Made Sengog (affectionately called ‘Niang Sengog’) showed their affection to the late teachers with a brilliant dance performances. The oldest dancers that night were in their early seventy and the youngest were in their late forty.

Legong Lasem dance

The nostalgic performances of the veterans began with a musical performance entitled Tabuh Kapiraja (King of Monkey Symphony) by Gunung Sari troupe. The symphony began with a sudden stroke on the gangsa’s (metalophone) key, sending a shock to the audience and seizing their attention immediately. The difficult symphony was played delicately in break-neck speed, hardly gave the audience time to breath; it was amazing as well as exhilarating.

Left & middle: Legong Lasem dance, right: Kebyar Duduk dance

Another musical performance was Gambang Kuta Symphony given by Gunung Jati troupe. The Gambang Kuta Symphony was composed by I Lotring, a famous Balinese composer from Kuta and played with melodious Semara Pegulingan ensemble. Gunung Jati troupe played the intricate symphony elegantly, creating waves of soothing sound which overwhelmed the audience.

Left & middle: Kebyar Duduk dance, right: Legong Bapang dance

For the dances performances, as I wrote earlier that the adjectives are not good enough to describe the beauty of these series of dances so I won’t bother myself to describe the beauty of these dances, I suggest you to take a look on the pictures.

Legong Bapang dance

The series of dance performances began with Gabor dance. The dance is based on the sacred Sanghyang dance and danced to welcome the audience with showers of flowers.

Legong Bapang dance

The next dance was Legong Lasem, a masterpiece of legong genre. The Legong Lasem enacts the story of the kidnapping of Princess Lengkasari by the King of Lasem, the King of Kahuripan, the fiancée of Princess Lengkasari, waged war on King of Lasem to rescue the princess. On his way to the battle field King of Lasem was attacked by a crow, bird of evil omen which indicated his death in the battle.

Legong Bapang dance

The Legong Lasem performance was followed by Legong Kuntir. The Legong Kuntir enacts the story of the fight between two monkey king Subali and Sugriwa. The story of Legong Kuntir is taken from the great epic Ramayana.

Left & middle: Legong Bapang dance, right: Legong Kuntir dance

The next performance was Kebyar Duduk dance. This highly demanding dance was created by I Mario, a maestro from Tabanan in 1952. The dance is mainly performed in sitting position with crossed legs. Kebyar dance puts great emphasis on facial expression and dancer understanding on the mood of music which accompanies the dance.

Left: Legong Kuntir dance, middle & right: Legong Pelayon dance

After the Kebyar Duduk, Legong Bapang followed close at heel. The Legong Bapang enacts the same story with Legong lasem but with more emphasis on the battle scene between the crow and the King of Lasem.

Left & middle: Legong Pelayon dance

The last performance was Legong Pelayon. The Legong Pelayon describes various qualities and moods of god Shiva, as a benefactor as well as dissolver of life.

Legong is a poem not a prose, its story is not as clear as the opera, use your imagination.

Performers:
Gabor (Pendet) dance, companied by Gunung Sari gong troupe.
Dancers: Luh Mas Sriati, Jero Puspa Nurini, Jero Winari, Jero Puspa Wiraga, AA Suryawati Djelantik, Gst Ayu Raka, Nyoman Remini, Dayu Agung Anggraini, Cok Istri Parmini.

Legong Lasem dance, companied by Gunung Sari gong troupe.
Dancers: Gusti Ayu Raka Astuti, AA Arimas, Cok Ratu Murniati.

Kebyar Duduk dance, companied by Gunung Sari gong troupe.
Dancer: Anak Agung Gde Bagus Mandera Erawan.

Legong Bapang dance, companied by Gunung Sari gong troupe.
Dancers: Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik, Desak Putu Widhi, Jero Kartika.

Legong Kuntir dance, companied by Gunung Jati gong troupe.
Dancers: Murni, Ni Made Suasti.

Legong Pelayon dance, companied by Gunung Jati gong troupe.
Dancers: AA Raka Astuti, AA Sri Utari, Cok Ratih, Nyoman Sulasih.

Popularity: 3% [?]