Javanese dance (; ) is the dances and art forms that were created and influenced by

Javanese culture Javanese culture () is the culture of the Javanese people. Javanese culture is centered in the provinces of Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java in Indonesia. Due to various migrations, it can also be found in other parts of the world, such as ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. Javanese dance movement is controlled, deliberate, and refined. Javanese art often displays finesse, and, at the same time, a serene composure which is elevated far above everything mundane. Javanese dance is usually associated with courtly, refined, and sophisticated culture of the Javanese kratons, such as the '' bedhaya'' and '' srimpi'' dance. However, in a wider sense, Javanese dance also includes the dances of Javanese commoners and villagers, such as '' ronggeng, tayub,

reog or () is a traditional Indonesian dance in an open arena that serves as folk entertainment and contains some magical elements. The main dancer is a lion-headed person with a peacock feather decoration, accompanied by several masked dancers an ...

,'' and '' jaran kepang''. Javanese dance and its discipline has different styles and philosophy compared to other Indonesian dance traditions. Unlike vigorous and expressive

Balinese dance Balinese dance (; ''(igélan Bali)'') is an ancient dance tradition that is part of the religious and artistic expression among the Balinese people of Bali island, Indonesia. Balinese dance is dynamic, angular, and intensely expressive. Balin ...

or cheerful and slightly sensual Sundanese dance, Javanese dance are commonly involving slow movements and graceful poses. Javanese dance have somewhat a meditative quality and tends to be more self-reflective, introspective and more oriented toward self-understanding. Javanese dance is usually associated with Wayang wong, and the palaces of

Yogyakarta Yogyakarta is the capital city of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by Hamengkubuwono, a monarchy, Yogyakarta is regarded as an importan ...

and

Surakarta Surakarta (Javanese script, Javanese: , Pegon script, Pegon: ), known colloquially as Solo (Javanese script, Javanese: ; ), is a major List of regencies and cities of Indonesia, city in Central Java, Indonesia. The city adjoins Karanganyar Reg ...

due to the nature of dance being a pusaka or sacred heirloom from ancestors of the palace rulers. These expressive dances are more than just dances, they are also used for

moral A moral (from Latin ''morālis'') is a message that is conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader, or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim. ...

education, emotional expression, and spreading of the Javanese culture.

Types of Javanese dance

Javanese dance reflects the stratified hierarchy of Javanese society, and roughly can be identified within two mainstream of traditions: #Court dances (''tari kraton'') #Commoner dances (''tari rakyat'')

Court dances (''tari kraton'')

The courtly Javanese palace dance is the type of dances that developed, nurtured and fostered by Javanese Kratons, mainly

Yogyakarta Sultanate The Sultanate of Yogyakarta, officially the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat ( ; ), is a Javanese monarchy in Yogyakarta Special Region, in the Republic of Indonesia. The current head of the sultanate is Hamengkubuwono X. Yogyakart ...

and

Surakarta Sunanate Surakarta Sunanate (; ) is a Javanese monarchy centred in the city of Surakarta, in the province of Central Java, Indonesia. The Surakarta Kraton (Indonesia), Kraton was established in 1745 by Pakubuwono II. Surakarta Sunanate and Yogyakarta S ...

, the patrons of Javanese Mataram culture. Javanese sultans are known as the patron and the creator of Javanese court dances. Kraton dances employs sets of rules about certain dance movements, body and hand gestures that requires discipline to learn.

Gamelan Gamelan (; ; , ; ) is the traditional musical ensemble, ensemble music of the Javanese people, Javanese, Sundanese people, Sundanese, and Balinese people, Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussion instrument, per ...

orchestra is the prerequisite for Javanese court dance performances as well as for other Javanese art forms such as

Wayang ( , ) is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the Indonesian island of Java. The term refers both to the show as a whole and the puppet in particular. Performances of wayang puppet theatre are accompanied by a ''gamel ...

performances. The serene elegance, slow pace and constrains of its movements gave Javanese dance a meditative traits. Javanese court dances were heavily influenced by Javanese

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

legacy. As the result the costumes, jewelry and story, often reflects or based on Hindu epic tales of

Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...

and

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...

. There are three basic types of courtly Javanese kraton dance: #''Beksan putra'' – These are the dances for men, which serve two purposes: a military close-order drill and highlighting martial skills. Dancers may learn beksan putra dances to familiarize themselves with the movements for narrative dances. #''Beksan putri'' – ''Putri'' is the Javanese word for

female An organism's sex is female ( symbol: ♀) if it produces the ovum (egg cell), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete (sperm cell) during sexual reproduction. A female has larger gametes than a male. Females and ...

, and these dances include courtly dances designed for royal events with very precise movements and distinct staging with subtle layers of meaning. Such dances were often used for entertainment or courtship. #''Beksan wayang'' – These are narrative dances from epic

poems Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

, and usually are named after the characters in them, usually an alus-style hero and a gagah-style villain.

''Bedhaya''

Surakarta *Bedhaya Ketawang *Bedhaya Pangkur *Bedhaya Duradasih *Bedhaya Mangunkarya *Bedhaya Sinom *Bedhaya Endhol-endhol *Bedhaya Gandrungmanis *Bedhaya Kabor *Bedhaya Tejanata *Bedhaya Dempel *Bedhaya La la *Bedhaya To lu *Bedhaya Alok Yogyakarta *Bedhaya Semang *Bedhaya Tirta Hayuningrat *Bedhaya Bedhah Madiun *Bedhaya Partha Krama *Bedhaya Sinom Mangkunegara *Bedhaya Anglir Mendung *Bedhaya Bedhah Madiun Pakualam *Bedhaya Angron Akung *etc. File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Bedoyo danseressen aan het hof van de sultan van Yogyakarta TMnr 3728-444.jpg, The court of the Sultan of

, c. 1876. Performance of Bedhaya Sacred Dance accompanied by Javanese Gamelan Ensemble. File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Bedoyo dansvoorstelling tijdens het huwelijk van Hoesein Djajadiningrat en Partini in de kraton van Prang Wedono (Mangkoe Negoro VII) de vader van de bruid Solo TMnr 60020674.jpg, Bedhaya dance performance at the wedding in Mangkunegaran Palace,

Solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity * Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character * Napoleon Solo, fr ...

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

, in January 1921. File:KITLV 11564 - Kassian Céphas - The bedojos a sembah (tribute) to the Sultan of Yogyakarta - 1884.tif, The bedhaya dancers doing a sembah (tribute) to the Sultan of

in 1884. File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Bedoyo danseressen aan het hof van de Susuhunan van Solo Soerakarta TMnr 60001443.jpg, The Bedoyo dancers at the Susuhunan Palace Solo,

, between 1910 and 1930.

''Srimpi''

Surakarta *Serimpi Ludira Madu *Serimpi Sangupati *Serimpi Gondokusuma *Srimpi Renggowati Yogyakarta *Srimpi Pandelori *Srimpi Jebeng *Srimpi Muncar *Srimpi Pramugari Mangkunegara *Serimpi Anglir Mendung Pakualam *Srimpi Renyep *etc. 2011-06-05 TTF 46.jpg, The elegant dance of Srimpi. Tari "Srimpi Dhempel" Puro Pakualaman.jpg, Srimpi Dhempel. KITLV 115029 - Isidore van Kinsbergen - Serimpi female dancers of the Regent of Bandung - 1863-1865.tif, "Serimpi" dancers of the Regent of

Bandung Bandung is the capital city of the West Java province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, the city is the List of Indonesian cities by population, fourth-most populous city and fourth largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabay ...

(circa 1864) File:Serimpi Dancer in Yogyakarta, Kota Jogjakarta 200 Tahun, plate before page 137.jpg, Srimpi Dancer in Yogyakarta.

''Golek''

*Golek lambang sari *Bondan * Bambangan Cakil *Topeng *Banda Baya *Wiropratomo *Golek Menak *etc.

''Gambyong''

*Gambyong Retno Kusumo *Gambyong Pare Anom *etc.

''Beksan''

*Beksan Lawung *Beksan Anglingkusuma *Beksan Jangerana *Beksan Panji Ketawang *Beksan Wireng *Klana Raja *Klana Alus

''Wayang wong''

*Wayang wong File:Beksan Puri Melati Gagrak Pakualaman 04.jpg, Beksan Puri Melati dance File:Penari Beksan Jebeng.jpg, Beksan Jebeng dance File:Gambyong Langenkusuma Pj DSC 1322.JPG, Gambyong Langenkusuma dance File:Javanese-style dance at the 8th Malam Anugerah Sastra, Inna Garuda, Yogyakarta 2014-10-22 01.jpg, Javanese-style dance at the 8th Malam Anugerah Sastra, Inna Garuda, Yogyakarta

Commoner dances (''tari rakyat'')

''Topeng endel''

''Kethek ogleng''

''Lengger''

Lengger lanang

''Sintren''

''Angguk''

''Barongan''

''Tayub''

''Ronggeng''

''Kuda lumping''

''Topeng malang''

''Reog''

''Remo''

It's the popular dances of the commoner. This is the type of Javanese dances that developed in villages or cities that located relatively quite far from Javanese kratons as the center of Javanese palace culture. Kawulo dances is lack in Javanese courtly dance discipline, constraints, and refinements. This type of dance relatively more open and adaptive to local preference as well as foreign influences. Several dance forms function as courtship or social dance such as '' ronggeng, gandrung'' and ''tayub'', while others are celebratory dances such as ''

'' and ''

kuda lumping Kuda Lumping ( Javanese: ꦗꦫꦤ꧀ꦏꦺꦥꦁ, Jaran Kepang or Jathilan, Indonesian: Kuda Lumping or Kuda Kepang, English: Flat Horse) is a traditional Javanese dance originated from Ponorogo, East Java, Indonesia depicting a group of hors ...

''. The movement of social dances, such as ''ronggeng'' and ''tayub'' are more vigorous and often erotic, closely related to Sundanese '' jaipongan''. Because of the erotic nuances, those who perform this type of dance are sometimes perceived as intentionally being suggestive or even openly advertising sexual favors. File:GREBEG SURO PONOROGO 1.jpg, Singo Barong performance at Festival Reog Nasional in

Ponorogo Ponorogo Regency (; ) is an inland Regency (Indonesia), regency () of East Java Province of Indonesia. It is considered the birthplace of Reog, Reog Ponorogo, a traditional Indonesian dance form. The regency covers an area of , and it had a popu ...

East Java East Java (, , ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost third of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean border its northern ...

File:Kuda Lumping 1.jpg, Kuda Lumping also called "Jaran Kepang", is a traditional Javanese dance depicting a group of troops riding horses. File:Javanese Dance Ramayana Shinta 2.jpg, Shinta in Javanese

Wayang Wong dance performance,

Prambanan Prambanan (, , Javanese script, Hanacaraka: ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ) is a 9th-century Hindu temple, Hindu Candi of Indonesia, temple compound in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, in southern Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, Trimūr ...

. File:Tari Remo.jpg, Remo dance

Gallery

File:Beksan Nir Corona Keraton Yogyakarta.webm, Beksan Nir Corona, a dance about

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

prevention performed at Kraton Ngayogyakarta File:Raffles A Ronggeng or dancing girl.jpg, Ronggeng dance File:Isaac Israels, Javanese dancer.jpg, Painting of Javanese dance File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Javaanse danseressen TMnr 3204-367.jpg, Painting of Javanese dance

External links

Gambyong Sukoretno dance
at

Mangkunegaran The Principality of Mangkunegaran () was a small Javanese princely state located within the region of Surakarta in Indonesia. It was established in 1757 by Raden Mas Said, when he submitted his army to Pakubuwono III in February, and swore a ...

palace
Golek Sulung Dayung dance
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palace
Ramayana Javanese dance
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temple