Ubud: Legong and Barong Dance

So this evening I decided to broaden my horizons by watching a traditional Balinese dance.

This took place at Ubud Palace, where the local Royal family live. Apparently this form of dancing tells a story through dance and drama, although I was lucky and saw one mainly of dancing as there was no English translation when they were speaking.

This is the grand setting for tonight's performance at the Palace.

Soon the orchestra came out to start playing the traditional Gamelan music. Some of the instruments are played with hammers and, I mean no offence here, to me it sounded like the whole orchestra was playing the hammers....

But soon I was distracted as the beautiful dancers came to perform the first act - the Legong Kraton dance, which is danced by three beautiful women and is traditionally performed in front of the 

King (he must have been busy tonight as I didn't see him in the audience). They tell the story through beautiful, although sometimes jerky movements and the expressions on their faces.

Next came the Bapang, which is a big monster controlled by 2 men in a dancing suit with another man dressed as a monkey later (I was a little lost).

Then came the battle of virtue and vice - Telek, where the 6 men dance in beautiful masks.

Six beautiful women follow this act:

Then, I have to admit, I got a bit lost..... I understand there is some battle with an evil witch (I think widow witch, not window witch as listed in the program).

 I think she battles with 3 men, who are white gurus (not sure if that is the plural of guru, maybe guri??). But they were talking more and dancing less, so I'm not completely sure - they were scared of her I think.

Then 6 bare chested warriors in sarongs with flowers in their hair killed the window witch and then stabbed themselves with their daggers.

So that's that. The end.

I may not have completely followed what was going on, but I enjoyed it immensely. The performers were all very talented, even the hammer orchestra. I walked outside the Palace at the end to watch the orchestra all speeding away in their mopeds in full costume. Just another night in Ubud.