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.

Every time I see the Legong, I discover something new about it. And every dancer brings a unique perspective to the dance.

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.