Bali Arts Festival Fuses Legong Dance with Digital Innovation

RRI.CO.ID, Denpasar - The 2026 Bali Arts Festival (PKB) showcased a graceful fusion of tradition and modern visual technology in Denpasar, Bali. Sanggar Bina Yowana Santi from Gianyar Regency presented a performance that blended the classical Legong dance’s established movement patterns with interactive digital video projections on stage, without diminishing the ritual’s sacred essence.

The performance on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, at 6 p.m. local time drew audience attention with five dance and tabuh gamelan pieces. “The Palegongan Semara Petanginan performance signifies that each staging brings change or innovation every year, while still preserving the classical elements,” said the troupe leader, I Putu Gede Suardika, as quoted by Antara.

As the finale, the group, popularly known as Puri Menara Group (PMC), presented a special work titled Legong Mas Kanaka. The piece was dedicated to honoring an Ubud art figure.

Young choreographer Anak Agung Bagus Pujangga Mentara (Ajun) said the dance was inspired by his late grandfather. “The figure portrayed in this dance is Cokorda Agung Mas Kanaka, a master of karawitan and pure arts from Ubud,” he said.

Cokorda Agung Mas Kanaka was a leading artist who helped introduce Balinese arts abroad and once taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States.

Unlike the conventional Legong, traditionally performed by women, the closing piece adopted the Legong Lanang concept. Seven male dancers performed the work with precision as an educational medium for an ancient tradition.

Another distinctive feature of the staging was the blend of tradition and modernity that dancers’ movements were integrated with digital visual technology through projected videos above the performance stage.

The troupe’s program from Central Ubud included Tabuh Klasik Gending Genggongan Gonteng Jawa, Legong Klasik Semarandna, and a new creation, Legong Kunti Sraya. The lineup also featured a new Palegongan tabuh titled Midu and a new Palegongan dance called Maskot.

Preparing for their PKB debut required up to three months of intensive rehearsals. Overall, the production involved more than 75 participants, including musicians and dancers.

“Through these maestros, the performers gained new knowledge about presenting classical dance and insights into contemporary choreography,” said Suardika.

The biggest challenge during preparation was coordinating the artists’ busy rehearsal schedules. Despite tight timetables, production ran smoothly under the guidance of eminent Balinese masters including Dewa Putu Berata, Wayan Darya, Dewa Putu Rai, and Ibu Cok Padmini.

Sanggar Bina Yowana Santi was established in 2007 and has been active at national events before being selected as an official regional cultural ambassador.

With this innovative staging, the troupe and supporters hope to strengthen preservation of traditional arts. The work aims to commemorate past masters and ensure the classical Balinese dance framework endures for future generations. ***