The History of Classical Javanese Dance

Classical Javanese Dance has created by Sri Sultan HB I.  He mighty  from 1755 – 1792.  Situation of war changed to arts situation.  The all of arts department got appreciation from Sri Sultan HB I include the dance.  Discipline of Classical Javanese Dance, Style of Yogyakarta is  very strong because the dancers are from soldiers. 

There is competition to ride a horse and use blunt spear, called Watang.  Someone has to get down the enemy with Watang to be a winner.   The Gamelan  Kyai Guntur Laut  played in the north square of  Yogyakarta Palace and there is shadow puppets in the evening for the competitors and people.  This program called Barwatang (after Watang).  In the end, competition of  Watangan  will be a  Beksan Lawung Dance. And it’s become the ceremonial dance. 

There are three  of the dances in The Yogyakarta Palace do not learned out side of palace, it’s for the originality and actually it’s very difficult to learned. The dances are: 1. The Bedhaya Dance, 2. Srimpi Dance, 3. The Lawung Dance. 

 

From the 3 dances above, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwana  I has idea to make one of dance form with story  and heroic theme.  The story has taken from Mahabharata.  It’s for  to give patriotic character who will take from Pandawa’s familys.  Character of  Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwana appear, that are a brave man, heroic and low profile.  In his low profile there is essential and spiritual so deep.  In the end the essential to be a philosophy and called philosophy of  Mataram Dance (Kawruh Joged Mataram).