Top 10 Indonesian Traditional Dances

The Saman Dance of the Gayo people of Aceh province involves dozens of performers executing intricate, synchronised hand clapping, chest patting, and swaying movements at increasing speeds. UNESCO inscribed the Saman Dance on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2011.

Legong is a refined Balinese classical dance performed by young women in elaborate gold-thread costumes and elaborate headdresses, depicting stories from Balinese mythology and history. Originating in the royal courts of Bali in the 19th century, it is considered the pinnacle of Balinese dance technique.

Reog Ponorogo from East Java features a performer wearing a massive lion mask adorned with peacock feathers that can weigh up to 50 kilograms, supported only by the dancer's teeth. The performance, associated with the historical legend of Prabu Klono Sewandono, was submitted for UNESCO Intangible Heritage inscription by Indonesia in 2022.

Pendet is a Balinese offering dance traditionally performed in temples to welcome the presence of deities, using small trays of flower offerings. It was originally a sacred ritual dance, but a simplified, secular version created in 1950 by I Wayan Rindi became a popular welcome dance performed at official state events.

Tor-Tor is a traditional ceremonial dance of the Batak people of North Sumatra, performed at rituals, funerals, and celebrations while accompanied by the mangondangi — an ensemble of traditional percussion instruments. The dance is considered a form of spiritual communication between the living and their ancestors.

Jaipong is a lively, expressive Sundanese dance form that emerged in West Java in the 1970s when choreographer Gugum Gumbira combined traditional Jaipongan drumming with pencak silat movements and folk dance. It became hugely popular across Indonesia as a symbol of Sundanese cultural pride.

Serimpi is a slow, refined Javanese court dance traditionally performed by four women to represent the four elements of the cosmos: fire, water, wind, and earth. Originating in the Mataram Sultanate of the 16th century, it was reserved for royal ceremonial functions and remains performed at the palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.

Cakalele is a warrior dance from Maluku (the Spice Islands) performed to celebrate victories in battle or welcome important guests, featuring male dancers brandishing machetes and shields in powerful, martial movements. The dance is an expression of Malukan identity and pride and is central to the province's major cultural festivals.

Yapong is a modern Betawi dance created in 1977 by choreographer Bagong Kussudiardja for the Jakarta anniversary celebrations, blending traditional Betawi folk elements with modern choreographic techniques. It has since become an iconic symbol of Jakarta's multicultural identity and is taught in schools across the capital.

The Saman Dance of the Gayo people of Aceh province involves dozens of performers executing intricate, synchronised hand clapping, chest patting, and swaying movements at increasing speeds. UNESCO inscribed the Saman Dance on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2011.

Legong is a refined Balinese classical dance performed by young women in elaborate gold-thread costumes and elaborate headdresses, depicting stories from Balinese mythology and history. Originating in the royal courts of Bali in the 19th century, it is considered the pinnacle of Balinese dance technique.

Reog Ponorogo from East Java features a performer wearing a massive lion mask adorned with peacock feathers that can weigh up to 50 kilograms, supported only by the dancer's teeth. The performance, associated with the historical legend of Prabu Klono Sewandono, was submitted for UNESCO Intangible Heritage inscription by Indonesia in 2022.

Pendet is a Balinese offering dance traditionally performed in temples to welcome the presence of deities, using small trays of flower offerings. It was originally a sacred ritual dance, but a simplified, secular version created in 1950 by I Wayan Rindi became a popular welcome dance performed at official state events.

Tor-Tor is a traditional ceremonial dance of the Batak people of North Sumatra, performed at rituals, funerals, and celebrations while accompanied by the mangondangi — an ensemble of traditional percussion instruments. The dance is considered a form of spiritual communication between the living and their ancestors.

Jaipong is a lively, expressive Sundanese dance form that emerged in West Java in the 1970s when choreographer Gugum Gumbira combined traditional Jaipongan drumming with pencak silat movements and folk dance. It became hugely popular across Indonesia as a symbol of Sundanese cultural pride.

Serimpi is a slow, refined Javanese court dance traditionally performed by four women to represent the four elements of the cosmos: fire, water, wind, and earth. Originating in the Mataram Sultanate of the 16th century, it was reserved for royal ceremonial functions and remains performed at the palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.

Cakalele is a warrior dance from Maluku (the Spice Islands) performed to celebrate victories in battle or welcome important guests, featuring male dancers brandishing machetes and shields in powerful, martial movements. The dance is an expression of Malukan identity and pride and is central to the province's major cultural festivals.

Yapong is a modern Betawi dance created in 1977 by choreographer Bagong Kussudiardja for the Jakarta anniversary celebrations, blending traditional Betawi folk elements with modern choreographic techniques. It has since become an iconic symbol of Jakarta's multicultural identity and is taught in schools across the capital.