Indonesian Dances

Indonesian Dances

Indonesia is famous as a nation with abundant culture. Starting from the westernmost to the easternmost regions, you can certainly find different cultures and customs with one another.

Well, talking about cultural issues, it seems incomplete if you do not talk about the cultural dance. Yep, the art of dance itself is part of the culture.

And in Indonesia alone you can find many types of dances from different regions. Even cooler, some of which have been recognized worldwide as the original culture of Indonesia



1. Reog Ponorogo Dance.


Reog is one of the cultural dance originating from east Java, Ponorogo City. You can watch modern Reog Dance in some events such as weddings, circumcisions and national holidays.

Art Reog Ponorogo consists of several series of 2 to 3 opening dance. The first dance is usually performed by 6 to 8 brave men in black, with red polished faces. These dancers portray a brave lion figure.


2 Saman Dance.


Saman Dance is a dance of Gayo tribe that is usually displayed to celebrate important events in culture. Poetry in saman dance is using Gayo Language.

In addition, this dance is usually performed to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Saman dance is also considered as one of the media for the achievement of da'wah. This dance reflects education, religion, manners, heroism, cohesiveness and togetherness.


3. Kecak Dance.


This traditional dance is certainly easy to remember people. This dance is performed by many male dancers who sit in a circular line and with certain rhythms calling 'cak' while lifting both arms.

This dance usually accompanies the Ramayana story which became the main story. For those of you who are interested to enjoy this dance or want to take pictures, the best spot is Uluwatu, Bali.

In that place, while watching the kecak dance, you can see the sunset scenery, because the stage of the show is designed so that viewers can see the sunset.


4. Barong Dance.


Not only Kecak Dance, Bali Island also has other types of dance that is not less interesting as Barong Dance. This dance illustrates the struggle between virtue and falsehood.

The form of virtue performed by Barong, a dancer with a four-legged animal costume, while a false form played by Rangda, that is a creepy figure with two pointed fangs in his mouth.



5. Ramayana Ballet.

If you are visiting  Jogjakarta, it would not hurt you to try to watch Ramayana Ballet. Ramayana Ballet itself is a show that combines dance and drama without dialogue, lifted from the Ramayana story.

The most epic spot to enjoy the Ramayana Ballet is Prambanan Temple. There you can watch the Ramayana Ballet in the open space with the background of Prambanan Temple.

Ramayana Ballet Schedule will usually start in May to October every year. While for the stage in a closed room held in January, February, March, April, November, and December.


6. Classical Dance of Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta style classical dance is also commonly called Joged Mataraman. This dance is a dance style developed by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I since the agreement of Giyanti.