Dance

Dance in Indonesia reflects the country's diversity of ethnicities and cultures. There are more than 1,300 ethnic groups in Indonesia. Austronesian roots and Melanesian tribal forms are visible, and influences range from neighbouring Asian and even western styles through colonization.

What is the famous dance in Indonesia?
Kecak dance originates in Bali. Many tourists come to Bali to watch this Kecak dance performance. Kecak dance is famous worldwide as it is often performed in countries around the world.
Saman Dance, Aceh
Having originated in Aceh, from a plateau called Gayo, Saman Dance is one of the most famous traditional dances in Indonesia. There are many values, principles, and philosophies of the Acehnese imbued in the Saman dance, such as wisdom, faith, manners, heroism, and togetherness. The Saman dance was originally performed to celebrate important occasions of the Acehnese community, such as the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
Tor-Tor Dance, Samosir
Tor-Tor Dance is an ancient traditional dance originating from North Sumatra that consists of the of North Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, and Toba Samosir regions. Initially, this dance was usually performed at ritual events such as the ceremony of death, healing, and so forth. According to history, the Tor-Tor dance was a part of rituals associated with spirits, which were invoked and “brought forth” into the stone statues that symbolized the ancestors.
Serimpi Dance, Yogyakarta
Serimpi is a traditional Indonesian dance that dates back to the 12th century. It originated from the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta and was developed by Pakubuwono IV, the leader of Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace. The name Serimpi comes from a local term “Srimpi Sangopati”, which means the replacement candidate for a king. The Serimpi dance performance is accompanied by gamelan music, the traditional Javanese music.
Kecak, Bali
Known internationally as the “Ramayana monkey chant”, Kecak Dance is a form of Balinese Hindu dance and musical theatrical performed primarily by men in temples and villages across Bali. Developed during the 1930s in Bali, Indonesia, the dance is considered one of the most spectacular traditional performances in Indonesia because it is generally performed by a circle of as many as 150 dancers wearing checkered clothes around their waists, chanting "chak" in a percussive manner while moving their hands and arms. The uniqueness of this dance is that it uses no artificial backdrop or stage and doesn’t involve any musical instruments. It must be performed at sunset, in the open air, usually above a cliff facing the sea, because the performance depends entirely on the natural light of day. As the sun goes down, the story progresses with the orange sky getting darker. This dance portrays a battle from the Ramayana, in which the monkey-like warriors known as Vanaras, led by Hanuman, assist Prince Rama in fighting the evil King Ravana.
Caci Dance, Flores
One of the most well-known traditional art forms of Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, the Caci dance is a traditional dance performed by two men fighting each other using a whip and a shield. This dance is performed at various events, such as the celebration of the harvest season (hang woja), New Year rituals (penti), and other traditional ceremonies. The dancers usually wear traditional warrior costumes of Manggarai, which include a head covering (base) and clothing at the bottom while the upper body is left naked.